Ruzhintsi, Bulgaria, 23rd April 2025
A workshop organized under the SONYA project was held on April 23, 2025, in the municipality of Ruzhintsi, focusing on enhancing social services for older people and improving the working conditions for social workers. The event brought together prominent experts, including Prof. Petya Puncheva-Michelotti, SONYA project coordinator from Rennes Business School; Assoc. Prof. Gabriela Yordanova, PhD; Assoc. Prof. Ekaterina Markova, PhD; Assoc. Dr. Alexey Pamporov from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Teodora Makaveeva and Maria Petrova from the Active Society Association; and Dr. Petko Petkov, sociologist and executive director of Gallup International Balkan. Local representatives, including the Mayor of Ruzhintsi Municipality, Alexander Alexandrov, along with mayors from various settlements, municipal administration officials, community centers, pensioners’ clubs, non-governmental organizations, and local residents, were also in attendance.
The workshop highlighted several pressing issues that are at the heart of the SONYA project’s mission to improve social services for older people and enhance social care workers’ conditions:
- Sustainability and Consistency in Social Programs: The discussion emphasized the lack of continuity in social programs such as the “Care at Home” and “Assistant Support” initiatives. The Mayor of Ruzhintsi shared examples of the challenges faced with the discontinuation of these programs, which previously provided support to older residents. Specifically, the “Care at Home” program, which had assisted 35 users until early 2025, ended in January and was replaced by the new program “Innovative Health and Social Services in the Municipality of Ruzhintsi,” serving only 13 users with a reduced staff. The uncertain future of the “Assistant Support” program also underscored the challenges in maintaining a steady level of care for vulnerable populations.
- Social Isolation and Home Care: The need to combat social isolation and improve home-based care for elderly individuals was a key theme. A proposal was made to create a fund supported by various sources to back social, cultural, and other initiatives involving elderly residents. Additionally, the “Care at Home” center in Vidin was showcased as a model of good practice, providing health and social services, including telecare, to individuals with permanent disabilities and chronic conditions. This demonstrated the potential for integrating digital technologies in elder care and social services.
- Future of Social Programs: Participants stressed the urgent need for long-term strategic planning to ensure the continuation and scaling of successful social programs. The uncertainty around program continuity, such as the future of the “Assistant Support” initiative, creates instability and hampers long-term planning.
The workshop provided valuable insights into the challenges and potential solutions for improving social services for older people, with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and community involvement. The SONYA project continues to play a vital role in addressing these issues by fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among stakeholders in the region.
