Number of consultations at Pro Senectute increased by eleven percent
Published: Thursday, Nov 21st 2024, 12:20
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The Pro Senectute advice centers are being visited more frequently by elderly people. Counseling hours increased by eleven percent between 2022 and 2023. However, the organization fears that the financing of these free consultations is on shaky ground.
According to a communiqué sent out on Thursday, the 130 advice centers in Switzerland recorded around 60,000 visits last year on all important topics relating to old age. The number of hours of counseling provided by the social workers who were consulted rose from 218,000 to 243,000 within a year.
Pro Senectute bases its information on an external evaluation by the company Interface. According to the evaluation carried out by this company, the social counseling sessions are a popular meeting place for senior citizens. They have a long-term effect that strengthens the autonomy of those affected.
Increasingly time-consuming
But the challenges are numerous. Rising life expectancy is increasing the need for advice. And although the number of older people is increasing, they have fewer and fewer social contacts.
The number of consultations is not only increasing, but is also becoming more complex and time-consuming. The amount of information available online cannot meet the growing need for direct contact, said Alain Huber, Director of Pro Senectute Switzerland, when asked by Keystone-SDA.
The funding gap for these offices is 25 percent across Switzerland. However, there are major differences between the municipalities and cantons. Even if improvements are noticeable, Pro Senectute is calling on the less generous cantons to become aware so that the organization can continue to offer its support permanently and free of charge.
©Keystone/SDA
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