Tartumaa social emergency service sees fewer users than expected

About 30 calls have been made to a social emergency service pilot in Tartumaa in a little over a year, fewer than expected, ERR reports. The service is available in Kastre, Kambja and Tartu municipalities, and its organisers hope it will eventually be offered across Estonia.

The pilot, launched in August last year with private company Estkeer, aims to improve access to support that helps people live at home and to prevent their need for assistance from increasing. The service is for unexpected situations, including those outside working hours.

Support is social rather than medical. Workers can help with tasks such as bringing firewood indoors or collecting groceries. In one recurring situation, a person is discharged from hospital but has no one available to bring them home. Social emergency workers can collect them, help them into bed and explain the discharge summary to their caregiver.

Kambja municipality said residents had used the service less than forecast, partly because they rely on relatives or neighbours for help outside working hours. Kastre has received about five calls. A municipal social work specialist said awareness of the service may have spread more slowly than expected.

The service is currently free to clients. In Kastre, clients were initially expected to pay 20 percent of the actual cost, with the municipality covering the fee if someone could not afford it. Tartu municipality joined the project without expecting a large number of users.

The European Union is co-financing the pilot with 500,000 euros, alongside a local contribution. Estkeer project manager Kadri Nöps said the experience could help inform the design of a social emergency service at national level.