The system of social services for the population in Russia. Social Service Organizations Social Service Institutions System

The social protection of the population of our country, which was limited in the 90s to the provision of social support to the elderly and disabled, the provision of social benefits and benefits, has undergone significant qualitative changes. The population of Russia paid a high social price for the political and economic transformations carried out in the country in the last decade of the twentieth century. A sharp drop in industrial and agricultural production, the outbreak of a social and moral crisis affected the lives of most families. Their real incomes and consumption levels fell catastrophically, and the pricing reform destroyed labor savings. The scale of crime has increased significantly, drug addiction, prostitution, and homelessness of children have spread rapidly, like an epidemic.

There have also been significant changes in the formation of civil society. One of them was the emergence and development of social work - a genuine social phenomenon that has become an integral part of Russian reality.

Currently the development of the system social service the population is at the stage of creating a network of institutions and testing the technologies of social services, taking into account the specifics of various regions of the Russian Federation.

Russia, being a social state in accordance with the Constitution, has managed in extremely difficult socio-economic and financial conditions to create the basis for the development of a full-fledged system of social services for the population.

The formation of a system of social services for the population required not only a new concept of social work, but also enormous efforts to train the necessary personnel, ensure legal regulation of issues related to the provision of social services. Today, the industry employs more than 450 thousand social workers who every day face the need to help people in critical situations. Helping veterans, disabled people, women, children, they make a significant contribution to the normalization of the social situation in the country.

The continuing problems in the economy cause the growth of the population's demand for social protection. The socio - economic situation objectively predetermines the scale and direction of the industry, which is forced to constantly increase the volume of social services, developing the system as a whole.

So, social service institutions are legal entities. The procedure for the creation, operation, reorganization and liquidation of institutions and enterprises of social services, regardless of the form of ownership, is regulated by the civil legislation of the Russian Federation. State institutions of social services are not subject to privatization and cannot be re-profiled for other types of activities. Social service institutions have the right to conduct entrepreneurial activity only insofar as it serves the achievement of the goals for which they were created.

Social service institutions are, regardless of ownership:

1) Comprehensive centers of social services for the population;

2) Territorial centers social assistance family and children;

3) Centers of social services;

4) Social rehabilitation centers for minors;

5) Centers for helping children without parental care;

6) Social shelters for children and adolescents;

7) Centers for psychological and pedagogical assistance to the population;

8) Centers for emergency psychological assistance by telephone;

9) Centers (departments) of social assistance at home;

10) Night stay houses;

11) Special homes for lonely elderly people;

12) Inpatient institutions of social services (boarding homes for the elderly and disabled, psycho-neurological boarding schools, orphanages for mentally retarded children, boarding homes for children with physical disabilities);

13) Gerontological centers;

14) Other institutions providing social services.

Social service enterprises include enterprises that provide social services to the population.

Social services are provided by social services free of charge and for a fee.

The procedure for the provision of free social services is determined by the state authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Paid social services in the state system of social services are provided in the manner established by the state authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

Tariffs for social services provided to the population by state social services are established by the authorities executive power subjects of the Russian Federation.

Terms and conditions of payment social services in social services of other forms of ownership are established by them independently.

In accordance with Art. 16 of the Law on the Fundamentals of Social Services to the Population Free social services in the state system of social services in the amounts determined state standards social services provided:

1) Citizens who are incapable of self-service due to old age, illness, disability, who do not have relatives who can provide them with assistance and care, if the average per capita income of these citizens is lower living wage established for the subject of the Russian Federation in which they live;

2) Citizens who are in a difficult life situation due to unemployment, natural disasters, catastrophes, suffered as a result of armed and interethnic conflicts;

3) Minor children in difficult life situations.

More specific lists of categories of citizens to whom social services are provided free of charge are contained in the legislation on social services of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

Since the procedure for the provision of free social services and paid social services by the state authorities of the constituent entities of the Federation has not yet been determined, the guideline here can be the Regulation on the provision of free social services and paid social services by state social services, approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 739.

The procedure and conditions for the provision of free home-based, semi-stationary and stationary social services, as well as on terms of full or partial payment, are established by the executive authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Before the adoption of the relevant regulations, one should be guided by the Regulation on the procedure and conditions for payment of social services provided to elderly citizens and disabled people at home, in semi-stationary and stationary conditions by state and municipal institutions social services, approved by the Government of the Russian Federation No. 473.

At the same time, for determining the right to free or partial payment of social services, the living wage set for a given region is of prime importance. The law on the subsistence minimum stipulates that the value of the subsistence minimum per capita and for the main socio-demographic groups of the population in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation is determined on a quarterly basis. The specified values of the subsistence minimum should be established in the manner prescribed by the laws of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

In accordance with the Regulation, social services are provided at home, in semi-stationary and stationary conditions by social service institutions free of charge:

Lonely elderly citizens (single married couples) and people with disabilities receiving a pension below the subsistence level established for the region;

Elderly citizens and disabled people who have relatives who cannot, due to the remoteness of their residence, low security, illness and other objective reasons, provide them with assistance and care, provided that the amount of the pension received by these citizens is below the regional subsistence minimum;

Elderly citizens and people with disabilities living in families whose average per capita income is below the subsistence level established for the region.

Social services are provided on a partial payment basis:

Single elderly citizens (single married couples) and people with disabilities who receive a pension in the amount of 100 to 150% of the subsistence minimum established for the region;

Elderly citizens and disabled people with relatives who, for objective reasons, cannot provide them with help and care, provided that the amount of the pension received by these citizens is from 100 to 150% of the regional subsistence minimum;

Elderly citizens and people with disabilities living in families whose average per capita income is from 100 to 150% of the regional subsistence minimum.

At the same time, the monthly amount of partial payment for social services provided at home should not exceed 25% of the difference between the pension received by these citizens (average per capita family income) and the subsistence minimum established for the region.

The monthly amount of partial payment for social services provided in semi-stationary conditions should not exceed 50% of the difference between the pension received by these citizens (average per capita family income) and the regional subsistence minimum.

Monthly payment for social services provided in stationary conditions is made in an amount not exceeding 50% of the difference between the received pension or average per capita income and the subsistence minimum established for the respective region.

Social services are provided to other citizens at home, in semi-stationary and stationary conditions by social service institutions on a full payment basis.

The payment (partial or full) of social services provided to the elderly and the disabled does not include the cost of providing medical care in the scope of the basic program of compulsory medical insurance for citizens of the Russian Federation, education within the state educational standards and ensuring compliance sanitary regulations in social service institutions.

The decision on the conditions for the provision of social services (free of charge, with partial or full payment) is made by the administration of the social service institution on the basis of documents submitted by elderly citizens and disabled people or their legal representatives, taking into account the subsistence minimum established for the relevant region, as well as the fees charged for inpatient service.

When providing social services on a partial or full payment basis, social service institutions are obliged to conclude agreements with the elderly and disabled people or with their legal representatives in the established form that determine the types and volume of services provided, the time frame in which services should be provided, as well as the procedure and the amount of their payment.

It should be noted that the payment for inpatient services for elderly citizens and disabled people in public institutions of social services includes not only payment for social services, but also the cost of purchasing food and soft equipment, as well as the maintenance of the provided living quarters.

Now, let's talk about the problem of social services in Russia and ways to solve them.

There are many problems in the field of social services for pensioners:

On the one hand, paid social services are slowly developing, and on the other, there is a danger that paid services will become absolute, compared to the volume of paid services, the share of free services is decreasing;

The problem of priority for receiving places in institutions remains acute (about 12 thousand people need social services in a hospital setting and about 100 thousand people in non-stationary conditions);

The network of hospices is underdeveloped, including hospices at home;

The problem of financing the institutions and services of social services is urgent. At the same time, in the near future, the demand for social services by senior citizens, primarily for objective reasons, will increase;

The work of the existing institutions of social services needs significant improvement, in the replenishment of specialists, in the improvement of the legal and improvement of the material and technical base;

The problem of retraining and advanced training of specialists and service personnel in social service establishments of a new type.

For improvement social status for pensioners living in stationary social service institutions, it is planned to build and reconstruct these institutions. Gerontological centers, general boarding homes to be converted into gerontological centers, gerontopsychiatric centers, as well as inpatient institutions were selected as key objects.

Another obvious problem that complicates the interaction between the state and society in working with older people is the lack of information. For more successful activities It would be advisable for social protection bodies to have a database of public organizations working with older people and operating in the territory of their municipalities. The consistency and availability of this information at the regional and federal levels will improve inter-sectoral interaction, enrich public services with new ideas and approaches, and give public organizations the opportunity to disseminate their successful experience.

The next factor hindering the successful development of the institution of social services is the imperfection of legislation, its inconsistency and fragmentation, duplication of some acts by others. Often, there are no clearly formulated concepts of a particular type of social service. This creates difficulties in study and law enforcement practice.

V Russian society a large number of people with signs of disability. It's no secret that in recent times in the country there is a deterioration in the state of health of the nation, an aging society, unemployment, and poverty.

Obviously, in the area under consideration, solutions require solutions in two main areas: in the field of socio-economic development and legislative regulation.

Measures to reform social services are needed to address many of the issues. In particular, there is a need for a transition to a funded system in the field of social services - social insurance, when citizens, at the expense of personal contributions to the fund being formed, will be able to receive social services when they find themselves in a difficult life situation.

A measure that can change the financial situation is the creation of a state non-budgetary fund for social services, which will allow to concentrate existing receipts (tax and others), and in the future to spend them exclusively in the field of social services.

The next step can be development not state system social services, in particular strengthening the role public organizations(trade unions, religious organizations, public funds, charitable organizations, etc.).

Reforming the social services sector, it is also necessary to pursue a policy of regional equalization in order to create an equal level of social services throughout the country. However, it is important to avoid an equalization approach and to apply individual measures to different regions.

One of the measures to improve the situation in the field of social services is to provide regions with the opportunity to search for additional non-standard solutions, for example, stimulating charitable activities, development of non-traditional forms of social services, such as a home sanatorium or a social service facility on wheels.

In the field of protection of persons with disabilities - one of the most vulnerable categories, it is necessary:

an increase in the volume and quality of manufactured prosthetic and orthopedic products, rehabilitation means;

an increase in the number of institutions specializing in such production;

equipping places for training disabled people in educational institutions, expanding the network of specialized educational institutions.

As part of improving legislation, it is necessary to adopt a codified act at the level of the law, regulating the main issues in the field of social services. This will help streamline and systematize the existing legislation on social services.

V further work with legislative framework it is important to expand the subject composition of those in need, to move away from the concept of social services as an institution that regulates the relations of a narrow circle of subjects, only the elderly, the disabled and the poor.

The system of social services includes a network of specialized institutions designed to serve the relevant groups of the population.

An important place in this system is given to territorial centers of social services for the population.

Territorial social service is a set of governing bodies and specialized institutions that provide direct social services different groups and categories of the population on the territory of various administrative units of the Russian Federation: in regions, urban and rural areas, microdistricts, etc.

The functions of managing the issues of social services to the population in the subordinate territory are carried out by the bodies of social protection of the population. Local authorities (as well as non-state, public, private and other organizations with a license) create specialized social service institutions, the leading place among which is given to territorial social service centers. In accordance with the approximate Regulation on the Center for Social Services (order of the Ministry of Social Protection of Russia dated July 20, 1993, No. 137). The social service center is an institution for social protection of the population, carrying out organizational and practical activities to provide various types of social assistance to elderly citizens, disabled people and other groups of the population in need of social support. Such centers may have various social service units in their structure, including day care units for the elderly and disabled, social assistance at home, urgent social assistance services, and others, created taking into account the need and available opportunities. The centers provide comprehensive social assistance different types: psychological, legal, rehabilitation, social - pedagogical, medical and social, preventive, etc.

The territorial service may also include functional specialized centers, institutions and social service enterprises, regardless of the form of ownership.

Today one can observe how the constant development of the network of institutions and social service enterprises is taking place, new types of them are emerging, allowing to cover an ever wider range of social problems of various strata and groups of the population. The social service system is still in the process of formation.

Financing of social service institutions is carried out, as a rule, on a budgetary basis. So, financial resources social services are formed from:

- normative deductions from the budgets of the corresponding level in the amount of at least 2% of the expenditure side of the budget;
- proceeds from the fund for social support of the population by allocating part of the funds for the purpose of social support for families with children;
- funds from the federal budget for the implementation of statutory tasks;
- finance as a result of reallocation of funds between committees and service departments different levels for the implementation of regional, city and district programs;
- additional funds for regional and local budgets to provide targeted activities adaptation of the population's income to the rise in the cost of living, and more;
- income from paid services and from economic activity service institutions;
- charitable donations and contributions from enterprises, public organizations and individuals, proceeds from charitable actions.

The funds of the specialized centers are formed depending on the type of activity and the type of organization of their financing: budgetary, self-supporting or mixed. When the center organizes paid services to the population and makes a profit, it is directed to the further development of the center's main activities and is exempt from taxation in terms of funds credited to the local budget.

At times, local social service institutions have dual administrative subordination and several sources of funding. At the same time, practice proves the need for the formation of a subsystem of social services within individual departments, for example, social protection of the population, education, the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the employment service.

However, the development of social service institutions is constrained today by the following factors:

- weak legal basis social service systems;
- limited financial resources available at the disposal of federal and regional authorities, as well as bodies local government;
- lack of coordination in the activities of ministries and departments in the field of social services;
- lack of staff with vocational training in the field of social work;
- low social status and inadequate wages of social workers;
- insufficient use of financial, economic and intellectual capabilities of non-governmental institutions.

Institutions of social services for families and children

An important aspect in the regulation of socio - economic processes in society is the protection and support of the institution of the family. The basic principles in the organization of social assistance in this direction on the part of state, municipal and public organizations can be expressed as follows:

- expanding the family's capabilities to solve vital problems;
- establishing family ties with other teams, organizations and social institutions that provide resources, support opportunities;
- promoting the effective and humane development of the family as a socio-economic system;
- development of self-help to improve family social policy in the territories.

The plans for the development of social service institutions for families and children are linked, as a rule, with the tasks of implementing regional programs of family policy. Currently, there is a development of horizontal structures of the system of social assistance to families at all levels, taking into account the specifics of the regions. So, at the district (city) level, the organizers of social services serving families should know the needs of the population for such services. For these purposes, it is necessary to take into account the types of families, the presence of acute problems, the attitude of the population to such a service; in cases of need to form public opinion about the creation of an appropriate service and the possibility of applying to it for any resident of the region. The practice of developing social assistance services for families in Russia shows that it is necessary to provide a range of social services to both children and parents in the district (microdistrict).

Regional institutions are also called upon to perform scientific and methodological functions: for example, a comprehensive regional center for social assistance to families and children or a regional center for social health of the population should, based on the local situation, come out with recommendations to the authorities. Such regional institutions as the Doverie service, etc., also seem to be quite promising.

The social assistance service should be organized as open system in accordance with the social situation of a particular territory, where individual institutions and service units act as structures of elements created as needed.

Public service helping family and children performs the following functions:

- analytical: examines the problems and needs of families or team members;
- planning and organizational: plans and organizes social services in society;
- managerial: provides contact with government agencies, on which the solution of the client's problems depends, achieves a solution, evaluates the results of certain events, etc.;
- informational: informs the population about the possibilities of the service, new government decisions on social protection of the population.

Social work in these services can take various forms of family support. So, for example, there is emergency care for acute mental conditions of a person caused by social conditions or a difficult life situation, which is aimed at removing or reducing the negative consequences of such conditions, including the possibility of suicide. This assistance can be provided by such institutions and service units as helplines, emergency psychological aid points and others.

Help can be long-term, when, in difficult life situations, the client is provided not only primary, but also more in-depth support aimed at improving the situation, identifying internal reserves and developing a person's faith in their own strengths, in the ability to independently overcome life difficulties. Such assistance is provided in territorial centers of social assistance to families, social shelters for children and adolescents (mothers with children), rehabilitation centers, centers for helping children left without parental care, in psychological and pedagogical consultations, territorial brigades of social workers, which include social workers. specialized in different types families, problems, etc.

The assistance provided can be direct or indirect. Direct assistance is aimed directly at protecting human rights and interests, improving his living conditions, removing unwanted mental states etc. Mediated assistance is provided through work with the client's social environment (family, work team members, friends, street company and others), through various state organizations and foundations.

In addition, help can be responsive - in response to the current situation or the client's request, as well as of a preventive nature, that is, warning of a predictable adverse situation.

In accordance with the order of the Ministry of Social Protection of Russia dated April 14, 2013 No. 47, the Approximate Regulation on the Territorial Center for Social Assistance to Families and Children was approved, which defines it as an institution of the state system of social protection of the population intended for comprehensive service on the territory of the city, district or microdistrict of families and children in need of social support through the provision of timely and qualified social assistance of various types.

The center may have in its structure various units of social services for families and children, including departments of primary admission, information, analysis and forecasting, socio-economic assistance, medical and social assistance, psychological and pedagogical assistance, prevention of child and adolescent neglect, etc. etc.

The purpose of the Center's activities is to promote the realization of the right of families and children to protection and assistance from the state, the development and strengthening of the family as a social institution, improvement of socio-economic living conditions, indicators of social health and well-being of families and children, humanization of family ties with society and the state, the establishment of harmonious family relationships.

The main tasks of the Center are:

- identification of the causes and factors of social disadvantage of specific families and children, their need for social assistance;
- determination and provision of specific types and forms of socio-economic, medico-social, psycho-social, socio-pedagogical, legal and other social services to families and children in need of social assistance;
- support for families and individuals in solving the problems of their self-sufficiency, realizing their own capabilities to overcome difficult life situations;
- social patronage of families and individuals in need of social assistance, rehabilitation and support;
- participation in the work on the prevention of neglect of minors, protection of their rights;
- analysis of the level of social services for families with children in the city, district, microdistrict, forecasting their need for social assistance and preparation of proposals for the development of the sphere of social services;
- involvement of various state and non-governmental organizations in solving issues of social services for families and children.

The categories and groups of the population to which the Center provides social services include: - families: single-parent, large, low-income, etc. - children and adolescents who find themselves in unfavorable family conditions that threaten their health and development; orphaned or left without parental care; with deviations in physical and mental development, including the disabled, etc.; - adult citizens (pregnant women and lactating mothers; having minor children, etc.); - former inmates of orphanages and boarding schools ...

In the Russian Federation, as in the rest of the world, there is a tendency of population aging. According to the UN Population Division, in developed countries the proportion of older people will increase from 21 to 28% by 2050. In Russia, by 2010, the proportion of people retirement age already exceeds one third.

In this regard, in modern conditions, the institutions of social services for the elderly, interdepartmental work on the organization of social support for this group of the population acquire great importance. This is due not only to an increase in the proportion of older people in the population, but also to the solution of the problems arising from this phenomenon: a change in the social status of a person in old age, the termination or restriction of labor activity, the transformation of values, the very way of life and communication, as well as the emergence of various difficulties both in social and household and in psychological adaptation to new conditions, which dictates the need to develop and implement specific approaches, forms and methods of social work with pensioners and the elderly.

Social services for the elderly are carried out in accordance with the ethical principles of the International Labor Organization.

Personal dignity - the right to be treated with dignity, treatment, social assistance and support.

Freedom of choice - every elderly person has the right to choose between being kept at home and living in a shelter, temporary or permanent.

Coordination of assistance - assistance provided by various social bodies should be active, coordinated and consistent.

Individualization of assistance - assistance is provided, first of all, to the elderly citizen himself, taking into account his environment.

Bridging the gap between health and social care - when priority character criterion of health status, the level of financial assistance cannot depend on the standard of living and place of residence.

The regulatory framework for social work with the elderly in the Russian Federation is the Federal Law "On the Basics of Social Services for the Population in the Russian Federation" (dated December 10, 1995), according to which the sphere of social services provided to the elderly includes: household, social and medical, psychological and pedagogical, social and legal services; material assistance and social adaptation and rehabilitation of the elderly.

On initial stages the development of a system of social assistance for the elderly in the field of vision of social workers was the solution of such urgent problems as catering, medical services, provision of housing, material support in order to create normal living conditions for them.

On the present stage the organization of assistance to the elderly, along with the solution of these traditional social problems, involves the development of social technologies, the introduction of which will help to resolve issues related to psychological difficulties that older people have in the process of communication or due to loneliness, as well as socio-psychological problems - how older people perceive others age groups, what are their social problems, their relationships with people around, the role and status of the elderly in the family and society, etc. It should be noted that there are different categories of elderly people. There are people among them:

- not in need of help;
- partially disabled;
- in need of service;
- requiring constant care, etc.

As a rule, programs of social assistance, rehabilitation, correction are developed depending on belonging to a particular category of elderly people. The use of various principles, methods, techniques for working with a client is also associated with this.

The main principles of working with older people are respect and interest in the personality of the client, an emphasis on the need and usefulness of his experience and knowledge to the people around him. It is important to perceive the elderly person not only as an object, but also as a subject of social work. This should help to find and develop their internal reserves, conducive to self-realization, self-support and self-defense. An important role is played in this professional competence social worker, including knowledge of gerontological and psychological characteristics age, taking into account the client's belonging to a particular social group.

Help for the elderly is carried out by the social protection authorities through their departments, which identify and monitor, carry out various types of social support, offer and provide paid services... Social services are carried out by decision of the bodies of social protection of the population in the institutions subordinate to them or under agreements concluded by the bodies of social protection with the institution of social services of other forms of ownership.

The function of social protection and assistance is performed by the following institutions: - boarding houses; - day and night stays; - special homes for lonely elderly; - hospitals and departments for chronic patients; - hospitals of various types; - territorial social service centers; - social home care; - gerontology centers, etc.

Figure 1. The main scheme of the functioning of social services for the elderly

In the system of stationary institutions of the Russian Federation, a relatively new element is special houses for permanent residence single elderly people and married couples who have retained full or partial ability to self-service in everyday life and who need appropriate conditions for self-realization of basic life needs.

Approximate Regulations on a special home for such pensioners (approved by order of the Ministry of Social Protection of Russia dated 04.14.94, No. 47) lists its functions: - providing favorable conditions for living and self-service; - providing living elderly citizens with constant social, household and medical assistance; - creating conditions for maintaining an active lifestyle, including a feasible work activity.

In terms of architecture and layout, special houses must comply with age characteristics living contingent of citizens. Such a house consists of one or two-room apartments, includes a complex of social services: a medical office, a library and a room for club work, a canteen (buffet), points of orders for foodstuffs, handing over things to the laundry and dry cleaning, as well as premises for work, etc.

The special house is equipped with small-scale mechanization facilities that facilitate self-service of the elderly citizens living in it, and a round-the-clock dispatch center is organized at it, provided with internal communication with all residential premises and external telephone communication.

Medical care for citizens living in a special house is carried out by the relevant specialists of territorial medical and preventive institutions.

Based on the current legislation, citizens living in such houses are paid in full. They have the right to priority referral to inpatient institutions of social welfare authorities.

The organization of special homes for single elderly and elderly couples is one of the most promising ways to solve a whole range of social problems of pensioners and senior citizens.

The foundations of the system of social services for various categories of the population in our country are laid down in a number of laws, federal and regional programs. First of all - in the law "On the fundamentals of social services for the population of the Russian Federation" (1995) and the law "On social services for elderly citizens and disabled people" (1995), in the federal programs "Children of Russia", "Children with disabilities", "Development of social services for families and children ”and others.

Now we can already state that new professions have also taken root in our country - social work and social pedagogy, and new system institutions of social services to the population. The main place among social service institutions is occupied by institutions of the Ministry of Health and social development RF:

Family social service institutions;

Social service institutions for the elderly and disabled;

Departments of social assistance at home;

Urgent social assistance services;

Territorial social centers.

Among the listed institutions, in terms of their importance (not in terms of quantity), territorial social centers come out on top as comprehensive institutions to provide assistance to those in need (first of all, pensioners, disabled people, low-income families). Moreover, there is a tendency, which is expressed in the desire of each primary territorial-administrative unit (district, small town) to have its own center of social services.

The real number of such centers depends, first of all, on the material and financial capabilities of local authorities. A feature of territorial social service centers is that, by the nature of their activities, they are institutions of a complex type, they can include various types of services and departments that perform specific functions... So, according to the Model Regulations on the Center for Social Services, approved by the Ministry of Social Security of Russia (1993), the following departments and services can be opened in the center of social services:

Day care department (created to serve at least 30 people);

Department of social assistance at home (created to serve at least 60 pensioners and disabled people living in countryside, and at least 120 pensioners and disabled people - in urban areas);

Urgent social assistance service (designed to provide emergency assistance of a one-time nature).

In the department of day care, the following positions are provided: head of the department, nurse, a cultural organizer (with the performance of the duties of a librarian), an occupational therapy instructor (if there are workshops or a subsidiary farm), a hostess sister, a barman and others.

In the department of social assistance at home - the head of the department, social worker (specialist in social work) - 1.0 rate for 8 people served in urban areas and 1.0 for 4 people. - in rural areas, a car driver (if there is a car).

In the urgent social assistance service - the head of the service, a psychologist, a lawyer, a social work specialist (2 units), a social worker (1 unit), a car driver (if there is a car).

Of course, specialized departments or services can be created in addition to social service centers, directly by the social protection authorities. Many of these services or branches were opened even before territorial social service centers began to function in a particular area.

Along with the institutions of social services of the system of the Ministry of Health and Social Development, there are institutions of other departments (branch, trade union, youth, etc.). So, for example, in every region of Russia there are social services for youth.

On the territory of local authorities, various specialized (non-profit) social service centers are organized. These can be centers for the provision of social and legal services for employment (founders: a municipal (territorial) body and several commercial organizations), and rehabilitation centers for the disabled and orphans (founders: territorial body, committee for family and youth affairs, public and commercial organizations) and etc.

It should be emphasized that permission to conduct social protection activities on their territory by various departments and commercial structures is given by the relevant bodies of social protection and local self-government. At the same time, the municipal authority as entity, which gives permission for social protection activities on its territory, can act in several persons: and as one of the co-founders of an institution of social profile, organized on the initiative of various departments and public associations, and as the initiator and coordinator of the majority of socio-cultural events in the territory under their jurisdiction.

Social services are provided through the system of social services.

The concept of "social service" refers to the basic concepts in social services to the population and is defined as a system of state and non-state structures that carry out social work and include special institutions for the provision of social services and their management bodies.

The social service as a tool of social work organizes its activities in two directions: social protection and social assistance... The implementation of activities is based on the following approaches:

· Assistance should be of a reintegrating nature;

· When providing assistance, an individual approach to the client's request is carried out;

· Social assistance is provided on the basis of the principle of subsidy;

· The beneficiary should be active;

· Mechanisms of social assistance are “switched on” when other methods of support have been exhausted (psychological, moral, contractual, legislative).

The system of social services includes state, municipal and non-state services.

The state social service includes institutions and enterprises of social services, executive authorities of the Russian Federation and the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, whose competence includes the organization and implementation of social services.

The municipal social service includes institutions and enterprises of social services, local self-service bodies, whose competence includes the organization and implementation of social services.

Non-governmental social service includes institutions and social service enterprises created by charitable, public, religious and other non-governmental organizations and individuals.

In the context of these approaches, a client who finds himself in a difficult life situation can receive the following support based on his requests (see table).

Client assistance system in the social service system

State social services are focused mainly on providing people in need with various kinds of services. This determines the totality and content of its functions, among which, according to the Concept for the Development of Social Services for the Population of the Russian Federation (1993), the following are distinguished:

a) the function of social assistance, which includes:

identification, registration of families and individuals most in need of social support (low-income citizens, families with minor children and other disabled members), provision of material (financial, in-kind) assistance and provision of temporary housing to those in need, etc .;

prevention of poverty: creating conditions for families to independently ensure their well-being, family entrepreneurship;

home-based services for those in need of outside care (delivery of food, medicines, transportation for treatment, home health monitoring, etc.);

promotion of development unconventional forms preschool, school and out-of-school education;

organization of a temporary forced stay of a child outside the parental family, his further placement in a child care institution, under guardianship (guardianship), adoption;

b) the function of consulting, which includes:

consulting specialists (lawyers, sociologists, teachers, doctors, psychologists, etc.);

participation in the preparation of young people for the choice of a profession;

preparing young men and women for marriage and conscientious parenting;

parental medical and psychological universal education;

c) the function of social correction and rehabilitation, which includes:

social medical and psychological rehabilitation of minors with deviant behavior, neglected children and adolescents, children left without parental care;

medical and social rehabilitation and rehabilitation of children and adolescents with disabilities and families raising them;

d) the function of information of the population, study and forecasting of social needs, within the framework of which there are three directions:

providing the client with the information necessary to resolve a difficult life situation;

dissemination of medico-psychological, pedagogical and other knowledge among the population;

study by specialists in social work, specially created institutions, as well as with the help of scientific organizations, the needs of their clients and social problems that give rise to crisis situations in the region, the development and implementation of specific measures aimed at their elimination;

e) the function of participation in the implementation of emergency measures to overcome the consequences of natural disasters and social conflicts. In this regard, it is envisaged:

participation of social service specialists in the development of emergency programs;

the formation within the framework of rescue services organized at the central and other levels, teams of social workers, etc.

The main directions of social services for the population are determined by the Federal Law "On the Basics of Social Services for the Population in the Russian Federation" (1995):

· Provision of material assistance to citizens in difficult life situations, in the form of cash, food, as well as special vehicles, technical means for the rehabilitation of disabled people and persons in need of outside care, etc .;

· Social services at home, which is carried out by providing social services to citizens in need of permanent or temporary non-stationary social services;

Social services in inpatient institutions, carried out by providing social services to citizens who have partially or completely lost the ability to self-service and who need constant outside care, and ensuring the creation of living conditions appropriate for their age and state of health, carrying out medical, psychological, social activities, nutrition , care, as well as the organization of feasible work, rest and leisure;

Provision of temporary shelter in specialized social service institutions for orphans, neglected minors, citizens in difficult life situations, homeless citizens who have suffered from mental or physical violence and other social service clients who need temporary shelter;

· Organization of a day stay in social service institutions with the provision of social, social, medical and other services to elderly citizens and disabled people who have retained the ability to self-service and active movement, as well as to other persons, including minors in difficult life situations;

· Advisory assistance on issues of social and social and medical support of life, psychological and pedagogical assistance, social and legal protection;

· Rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities, juvenile offenders, other citizens who are in a difficult life situation and in need of professional, psychological, social rehabilitation.

Social service is based on principles: equal opportunities for citizens regardless of nationality, gender and age; availability; voluntariness; promoting self-reliant social adaptation; targeting; the priority of assistance to citizens in a dangerous or helpless state; humanity, benevolence, confidentiality; preventive focus; legality and consideration of international standards.

Social service is formed on the basis of legality, humanism, justice and democracy. At the same time, general principles are uniform for the entire system of social service, the widespread adherence to which makes this system integral and consistent:

The principle of the priority of state principles in organizing social services and guaranteeing the rights of citizens to receive social services and assistance in difficult life situations means that the state ensures individual rights, sovereignty, honor and freedom, protects it from all kinds of encroachments. It provides the social service system with the necessary materials, finances, personnel resources, determines the responsibilities of institutions, governing bodies and social service workers.

The principle of reliance on public participation means that the public component is an essential link in the operation and management of social services. Moreover, in cases where the activities of social services require social professional training, public participation is possible only as an aid to the main subjects of this activity.

The principle of territoriality means that the social service is as close as possible to the population and therefore to the maximum extent available for direct use. This principle makes it possible to solve the problems of integrating departmental interests and opportunities for a comprehensive solution to the problems of social services, to preserve the diversity of activities with uniform goals.

The principle of awareness means that institutions and management bodies of the social service have the right to collect information, to receive, upon a reasoned request from state and public bodies, information that is necessary for their functions and to help clients.

The functions of managing the issues of social services to the population in the subordinate territory are carried out by the bodies of social protection of the population. They build their activities in cooperation with health authorities, public education, culture, physical education and sports, law enforcement agencies, state services for youth and employment and other government bodies, as well as with public, religious, charities and funds.

3. Institutions of social services for the population: their types and specificity of activities

The system of social services includes a network of specialized institutions designed to serve the relevant groups of the population.

An important place in this system belongs to the territorial centers of social services for the population. Territorial social service is a set of governing bodies and specialized institutions that provide direct social services to various groups and categories of the population on the territory of various administrative units of the Russian Federation: in regions, urban and rural areas, microdistricts, etc.

The functions of managing social services for the population in the subordinate territory are carried out by the bodies of social protection of the population. Local authorities (as well as non-state, public, private and other organizations with a license) create specialized social service institutions, the leading place among which is given to territorial social service centers. In accordance with the approximate Regulation on the Center for Social Services (order of the Ministry of Social Protection of Russia No. 137 of 20.07.1993). Social Service Center is an institution for social protection of the population, carrying out organizational and practical activities on the territory of a city or district to provide various types of social assistance to elderly citizens, disabled people and other groups of the population in need of social support. Social service centers may have various social service units in their structure, including day care units for the elderly and disabled, social assistance at home, urgent social assistance services, and others, created based on the need and available opportunities. Such centers provide comprehensive social assistance of various types: psychological, legal, rehabilitation, socio-pedagogical, medico-social, preventive, etc.

The territorial service may also include functional specialized centers, institutions and social service enterprises, regardless of the form of ownership. Services can be state, municipal, non-state.

State social service(federal bodies and institutions, social service enterprises; social service units of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation).

Municipal social service(local authorities
departments responsible for social services; institutions and social service enterprises of municipal subordination).

Non-state social service ( institutions and enterprises of social services of public, charitable, religious and other non-governmental organizations).

Today, one can observe how the network of institutions and social service enterprises is constantly developing, new types of them appear, which makes it possible to cover an ever wider range of social problems of various strata and groups of the population. The social service system is still in the process of formation. Financing of social service institutions is carried out, as a rule, on a budgetary basis. So, the financial resources of the social service are formed from:

Ø normative deductions from the budgets of the corresponding
a level in the amount of at least 2% of the expenditure side of the budget;

Ø receipts from the fund for social support of the population by allocating part of the funds for the purpose of social support for families with children;

Ø funds from the federal budget for the implementation of statutory tasks;

Ø finance as a result of the redistribution of funds between committees and service departments of various levels for the implementation of regional, city and district programs;

Ø additional funds from the regional and local budgets to provide targeted measures to adapt the population's income to the rise in the cost of living, etc .;

Ø income from paid services and from the economic activities of institutions and service enterprises;

Ø charitable donations and contributions from enterprises, public organizations and individuals, proceeds from charitable actions.

The funds of the specialized centers are formed depending on the type of activity and the type of organization of their financing: budgetary, self-supporting or mixed. When the center organizes paid services to the population and makes a profit, it is directed to the further development of the main activities of the center and is exempt from taxation in terms of funds credited to the local budget.

The basic principle of the organization of social services in the Russian Federation is the territorial principle. At the same time, social services of various ministries and departments are considered as integral components (or sectors) of territorial social services. At times, local social service institutions have dual administrative subordination and several sources of funding. At the same time, practice proves the need for the formation of a subsystem of social services within individual departments, for example, social protection of the population, education, the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the employment service, youth.

However, the development of the network of social service institutions is currently constrained by the following factors:

ü weak legal base of the social service system;

ü limited financial resources at the disposal of federal and regional government bodies, as well as local government bodies;

ü lack of coordination in the activities of ministries and departments in the field of social services;

ü lack of personnel with professional training in the field of social work;

ü low social status and inadequate wages of social workers;

ü insufficient use of financial, economic and intellectual capabilities of non-governmental institutions.

Institutions of social services for families and children

An important aspect in the regulation of socio-economic processes in society is the protection and support of the institution of the family. The basic principles in the organization of social assistance to the family on the part of state, municipal and public organizations can be expressed in the following:

Empowering the family to meet vital challenges;

Establishing family ties with other teams, organizations and social institutions that provide resources, support opportunities;

Promoting the effective and humane action of the family as a socio-economic system;

Development of self-help to improve family social policy in the territories.

The general functional diagram can be represented as a system of family interaction with state, public, confessional and private structures.

The plans for the development of social service institutions for families and children are linked, as a rule, with the tasks of implementing regional programs of family policy. Currently, horizontal structures of the system of social assistance to families are being created at all levels, taking into account the specifics of the regions. So, at the district (city) level, the organizers of social services serving families should know the needs of the population for such services. For these purposes, it is necessary to take into account the types of families, the presence of acute problems, the attitude of the population to such a service; in cases of need to form public opinion about the creation of an appropriate service and the possibility of applying to it for any resident of the region. The practice of developing social assistance services for families in Russia shows that it is necessary to provide a range of social services in the region (microdistrict) for both children and parents.

The social assistance service should be organized as an open system in accordance with the social situation of a particular territory, where individual institutions and service units act as structures of elements, created as needed.

The State Service for Helping Families and Children performs the following functions:

analytical: examines the problems and needs of their contingent of families or team members;

planning and organizational: plans and organizes social services in society;

managerial: provides contact with government agencies, on which the solution of the client's problems depends, achieves a solution, evaluates the result of a particular event, etc.;

information: informs the population about the possibilities of the service, new government decisions on social protection of the population.

Social work in these services can be expressed in various forms of family assistance... So, for example, emergency care in acute mental conditions of a person caused by social conditions or a difficult life situation is aimed at removing or reducing the negative, including even the possibility of suicide, consequences of such a condition. This assistance can be provided by such institutions and service units as helplines, emergency psychological aid points, etc.

Help can be long-term, when in difficult life situations the client is provided not only primary, but also in-depth long-term support aimed at improving the attitude to the situation, identifying the client's internal reserves and increasing his confidence in himself and the ability to overcome the current circumstances. Such assistance is carried out in territorial centers of social assistance to families, social shelters for children and adolescents (mothers with children), rehabilitation centers, centers for helping children left without parents, in psychological and pedagogical consultations, territorial brigades of social workers, which include social workers, specializing in different types of family problems, which makes it possible to jointly search for solutions in the most difficult situations.

Help can be direct or indirect. Direct assistance is aimed directly at protecting the rights and interests of the client, improving his living conditions, removing unwanted mental states, etc. Indirect assistance is provided through work with the client's social environment (family, members of the work collective, friends, street company, etc.), through various government organizations and foundations.

In addition, help can be direct in another sense of the word, namely, in response to a situation or a client's request, as well as of a preventive nature, that is, preventing a predictable unfavorable situation.

In accordance with the order of the Ministry of Social Protection of Russia No. 47 of April 14, 1994, the Approximate Regulation on the Territorial Center for Social Assistance to Families and Children was approved, which defines it as an institution of the state system of social protection of the population intended for comprehensive services in the territory of a city, district or microdistrict of families and children in need of social support through the provision of timely and qualified social assistance of various types.

The purpose of the Center's activities is to promote the realization of the right of families and children to protection and assistance from the state, to promote the development and strengthening of the family as a social institution, to improve socio-economic living conditions, indicators of social health and well-being of families and children, to humanize family ties with society and the state. , the establishment of harmonious intra-family relations.

The main tasks of the Center are:

ü identification of the causes of social distress of specific families and children, their need for social assistance;

ü determination and provision of specific types and forms of socio-economic, medico-social, psycho-social, socio-pedagogical, legal and other social services to families and children in need of social assistance;

ü support of families and individuals in solving problems of their self-sufficiency, realizing their own abilities to overcome difficult life situations;

ü social patronage of families and individuals in need of social assistance, rehabilitation and support;

ü participation in work on prevention of neglect of minors, protection of their rights;

ü analysis of the level of social services for families with children in the city, district, microdistrict, forecasting their need for social assistance and preparation of proposals for the development of the sphere of social services;

ü involvement of various state and non-governmental organizations in solving issues of social services for families and children.

Families: single-parent families, large families, low-income families, etc .;

Children and adolescents in unfavorable family conditions that threaten their health and development; orphaned or left without parental care; having deviations in physical and mental development, incl. disabled people, etc .;

Adult citizens (pregnant women and lactating mothers; having dependent minor children, etc.);

Former pupils of orphanages and boarding schools.

Today in the system of social protection bodies there are about 1,500 institutions designed for families and children, of which about 200 are centers of social assistance to families and children.

Social service institutions for pensioners

In accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, citizens of Russia have the right to social, including pension, security in old age.

Pension is a cash benefit received by citizens from public consumption funds for old age, in case of disability, for length of service, in case of loss of a breadwinner, which is the basis for calculating a pension. Payments are made monthly in connection with reaching the retirement age.

In accordance with the legislation, pensions are divided into state and non-state. Labor and social pensions are established by law. In connection with labor and other socially useful activities, pensions are assigned: for old age (for age), for disability, for the loss of a breadwinner, for length of service. Citizens who, for whatever reason, do not have the right to a pension in connection with labor and other socially useful activities, are assigned a social pension.

The pension is assigned for life. Pension benefits in accordance with the current legislation are carried out by state social security authorities.

Men have the right to an old-age pension upon reaching 60 years of age with at least 25 years of work experience, and women - upon reaching 55 years of age with at least 20 years of work experience. Pensions are assigned to certain categories of citizens on preferential terms (that is, at a lower age and seniority).

Pension legislation ensures the right of citizens to choose one of the types of state pension. An exception is established only for persons who have become disabled as a result of a military injury, who can simultaneously receive two types of state pensions: old age (or seniority) and a disability pension.

Great importance in modern conditions, the institutions of social services for pensioners, interdepartmental work on the organization of social support for the elderly are acquired. This is due to an increase in the proportion of older people in the population, a change in the social status of a person in old age, the termination or restriction of labor activity, the transformation of values, the very way of life and communication, as well as the emergence of various difficulties, both in social and domestic psychological adaptation to new conditions. All this dictates the need to develop and implement specific approaches, forms and methods of social work with pensioners and the elderly. Social services for the elderly are carried out in accordance with ethical principles of the International Labor Organization:

personal dignity- the right to be treated with dignity, treatment, social assistance and support;

freedom of choice- every elderly person has the right to choose between being kept at home and living in a shelter, temporary or permanent;

coordination of assistance- assistance provided by various social bodies should be active, coordinated and consistent;

individualization of care- assistance is provided, first of all, to the elderly citizen himself, taking into account his environment;

bridging the gap between health and social care- given the priority character of the criterion of health status, the level of financial assistance cannot depend on the standard of living and place of residence.

The regulatory framework for social work with the elderly in the Russian Federation is the Federal Law "On the Basics of Social Services for the Population in the Russian Federation" (dated 10.12.1995). In accordance with this law, the sphere of social services provided to the elderly includes: social welfare, social medical, psychological and pedagogical, social and legal services; material assistance and social adaptation and rehabilitation of the elderly.

At the initial stages of the development of the system of social assistance to the elderly, such urgent problems as the organization of food, medical services, housing, material support were solved in order to create normal living conditions for them.

At the present stage, the organization of assistance to the elderly, along with the solution of these traditional social problems, involves the development of social technologies, the introduction of which will contribute to solving issues related to the psychological difficulties that elderly people encounter in the process of communication or from loneliness. It is also necessary to take into account how older people will perceive other age groups, what are the social problems of those who live to old age, their relationship with people around, the role and status of the elderly in the family and society, etc. It should be noted that there are different categories of older people. There are people among them:

Not needing help;

Partially disabled;

In need of service;

Requiring constant care, etc.

The main principles of working with older people are respect and interest in the personality of the client, an emphasis on the need and usefulness of his experience and knowledge to the people around him. It is important to perceive the elderly person not only as an object, but also as a subject of social work. This should help to find and develop their internal reserves, conducive to self-realization, self-support and self-defense. In this case, the professional competence of a social worker plays an important role, including knowledge of the gerontological and psychological characteristics of age, taking into account the client's belonging to a particular social group.

Help for the elderly is carried out by the social protection authorities through their departments, which identify and keep records, carry out various types of social support, offer and provide paid services. Social services are carried out by the decision of the bodies of social protection of the population in the institutions subordinate to them or under agreements concluded by the bodies of social protection with the institution of social services of other forms of ownership.

The following institutions also perform the function of social protection and assistance:

ü boarding houses;

ü departments of day and night stay;

ü special homes for lonely elderly people;

ü hospitals and departments for chronic patients;

ü hospitals of various types;

ü territorial centers of social services;

ü departments of social assistance at home;

ü gerontological centers, etc.

In the system of stationary institutions of the Russian Federation, a relatively new element is special houses for permanent residence of single elderly people and married couples who retain full or partial ability to self-service in everyday life and need appropriate conditions for self-realization of basic life needs.

Approximate Regulation on a special home for such pensioners (dated April 7, 1994) lists its functions:

Ø ensuring favorable living conditions and
self-service;

Ø providing living elderly citizens
constant social and household and medical assistance;

Ø creation of conditions for maintaining an active lifestyle, including a feasible work activity.

Architectural and planning solutions of a special house should correspond to the age characteristics of the living contingent of citizens. Such a house consists of one-two-room apartments, includes a complex of services for social and domestic purposes: a medical office, a library and a room for club work, a canteen (buffet), points of orders for food products, delivery of things to a laundry and dry cleaning, as well as premises for work, etc.

The special house is equipped with small-scale mechanization facilities that facilitate self-service for the elderly living in it. It should have a round-the-clock dispatch center, provided with internal communication with all living quarters and external telephone communication.

Medical care of citizens is carried out by medical personnel of territorial medical and preventive institutions.

On the basis of the current legislation, citizens living in such houses are paid in full. They have the right to priority referral to inpatient institutions of social welfare authorities.

The organization of special homes for single elderly and elderly couples is one of the most promising ways to solve a whole range of social problems of pensioners and senior citizens.

Elderly people and disabled people in the Russian Federation enjoy the full range of socio-economic and personal rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the constitutions of the republics that are part of it, and other legislative acts. However, a change in the social status of a person in old age and a disabled person associated with the termination or restriction of labor and social activities; transformation of values, lifestyle and communication; the test of difficulties in social, household and psychological adaptation to new conditions, gives rise to serious social problems.

The most acute problem is the limitation of the vital activity of the elderly and the disabled. Restriction of life is understood as a complete or partial lack of a person's ability or ability to carry out self-care, movement, orientation, communication, control over their behavior, as well as to engage in labor activity... In solving this problem, it is of paramount importance to improve the system of social rehabilitation and social assistance to the elderly and disabled.

Social rehabilitation is a complex of socio-economic, medical, legal, professional and other measures aimed at ensuring necessary conditions and the return of these populations to a full life in society. Composite element social protection of the elderly and disabled at the present stage is provision of social assistance i.e. collateral in cash and in kind, in the form of services or benefits, provided taking into account the social guarantees for social security established by the state. It has, as a rule, the character of periodic and one-time supplements to pensions and benefits, in-kind payments and services in order to provide targeted, differentiated social support for these categories, to eliminate or neutralize critical life situations caused by unfavorable socio-economic
conditions.

Thus, along with the provision of traditional forms of social security: cash payments(pensions, benefits); natural support; services and benefits; stationary and non-stationary types of services - great importance is attached to new forms of emergency social assistance to disabled, urgently needed citizens of the Russian Federation.

Social services and welfare for the elderly includes pensions and various benefits; maintenance and service of the elderly and disabled in special institutions of social welfare agencies; prosthetics; benefits for people with disabilities; helping the homeless. Social security is carried out by state bodies, enterprises, individuals, at the expense of contributions (deductions from wages) workers. In the latter case, the payment from the funds is not determined
labor contribution and experience, and the size of contributions. This practice is very common in Western countries. In 1995, in the social protection system of our country, there were 959 inpatient institutions for the elderly and disabled, more than 700 social service centers, 900 departments of social assistance at home, as well as a number of other social assistance institutions (psychological and pedagogical, emergency psychological assistance and etc.).

One of the primary tasks of the activities of the departments of social assistance at home is the active identification of disabled citizens in need of home-based services. The urgent social assistance service of the Social Service Center provides a wide range of services: one-time provision of free hot meals or food sets to those in dire need; provision of clothing, footwear and basic necessities; one-time provision of material assistance; assistance in obtaining temporary housing; provision of emergency psychological assistance, including through the "hotline": provision of legal assistance within the limits of their competence;
provision of other types and forms of assistance due to regional and other characteristics.

Targeted social protection of the elderly is of great importance in a crisis situation in Russia. First of all, it turns out to be the most needy: lonely pensioners, disabled people, elderly people over 80 years old. Sociological research in our country have shown that the main directions of ensuring the well-being of the elderly (in their opinion) are: increasing pensions, improving pensions, developing services for caring for them at home, increasing the number of nursing homes and improving living conditions in them.

Improving pension provision is one of the most important areas of social security in modern states. It is necessary to pay attention to social services for the elderly. It is important to provide here, taking into account the loss of the ability to self-service, the provision of special comfortable shoes, clothes, various devices and devices that would make it easier for old people to move along the street, do housework, and perform some hygienic procedures. To solve these problems, architects, designers, gerontologists have long identified promising directions for the development and production of appropriate household appliances.

These proposals boil down to the creation of: - automated kitchen complexes that allow programming operations for cooking; - lift systems for caring for bedridden patients and providing them with sanitary and hygienic assistance; - special furniture and mechanisms for cleaning premises, taking into account the age specifics of the elderly, etc., as well as a number of simple but very necessary devices and devices that create convenience for elderly people and increase the safety of household operations; - a system of handrails and support brackets for taking a bath by an old person; - special supports to facilitate putting on shoes; - gently sloping ramps instead of thresholds, etc. The proposals are good, however, unfortunately, in our country they are being implemented extremely unsatisfactorily.

Since 1986, the so-called Centers of social services for pensioners began to be created in our country, which, in addition to departments of social assistance at home, included completely new structural units- day care departments. The purpose of organizing such departments was to create a kind of leisure centers for the elderly, regardless of whether they live in families or single. It was envisaged that people would come to such departments in the morning and return home in the evening; during the day, they will have the opportunity to be in a cozy atmosphere, communicate, spend time meaningfully, participate in various cultural events, receive one-time hot meals and, if necessary, pre-hospital medical care.

The main task of the activities of such departments is to help the elderly in overcoming loneliness, a closed lifestyle, filling their existence with new meaning, the formation of an active lifestyle, partially lost in connection with retirement. Initially, such Centers were created at nursing homes for the elderly, since these institutions have such a material and technical base that could provide an appropriate area for the department, its equipment, and provide visitors with hot meals. The branches were designed for 25-50 visitors a day. The period of visits during the first period of operation of the branches was not limited. Payment for food was collected from the visitors of the department, differentiation, depending on the amount of the received pension. When the first centers were created, there was no provision for the rotation of visitors to day-care departments after a certain time.

However, the positive experience of these institutions made them popular among the population of retirement age, and found a large number of people willing to use the services of the day care unit. In this regard, taking into account the number of pensioners living in the service area of the Center and the number of applicants who applied to visit the department, in many territories, the time frame for which one group should be recruited was calculated, so that during the year everyone could visit the center two and more times. The department enrolls pensioners and disabled people, regardless of their marital status, who have retained the ability to self-service and active movement, on the basis of a personal application and a certificate from medical institution about the absence of contraindications for admission to the department. In the department, premises are allocated for an office of first-aid medical care, club work, a library, workshops, etc.

Thus, the considered issues of creating and developing a social assistance service for disabled citizens in Russia give grounds to predict their further improvement, in which effective
a new cadre of specialists in social work, whose training is currently receiving the most serious attention, will take part.