Socialinio darbuotojo veikla su šeimomis, kurios globoja suaugusį asmenį su proto (intelekto) negalia

LTŠiame straipsnyje apžvelgiama socialinio darbuotojo veikla su šeimomis, kurios globoja suaugusį asmenį su proto (intelekto) negalia. Socialinės apsaugos ir darbo ministerijos duomenimis, 2023 metais Lietuvoje buvo 223 tūkst. asmenų su negalia, iš kurių dalis – su proto (intelekto) negalia. Asmenys su proto (intelekto) negalia negali užaugti vieni be šeimos ar juos globojančių asmenų. Pagrindinė problema yra socialinio darbuotojo veikla su šeimomis, kurios globoja suaugusį asmenį su proto (intelekto) negalia. Straipsnį sudaro: įvadas, analizė, tyrimo metodika, tyrimo rezultatai ir jų aptarimas, tyrimo rezultatų apibendrinimas, išvados, rekomendacijos ir literatūra. Straipsnyje išskiriami šeimų susiduriami iššūkiai, pabrėžiant būtinybę gauti visapusišką, individualiems poreikiams pritaikytą pagalbą. Taip pat aptariama visuomenės sąmoningumo skatinimo svarba siekiant sumažinti diskriminaciją, su kuria dažnai susiduria tiek asmenys su proto negalia, tiek jų šeimos. Tyrimas atliktas taikant kokybinio tyrimo metodą, naudojant pusiau struktūruotą interviu duomenų rinkimui. Surinkti duomenys buvo analizuojami naudojant kodų, subkategorijų ir kategorijų išskyrimo metodiką. Rezultatai atskleidžia pagrindinius šeimų poreikius, taip pat socialinių darbuotojų veiklą teikiant socialines paslaugas šeimai. Raktiniai žodžiai: protinė negalia (intelekto sutrikimas), šeima, socialinės paslaugos socialinio darbuotojo veikla, suaugęs asmuo su negalia.

ENRelevance of the topic: According to the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, in 2023 there will be 223,000 persons with disabilities in Lithuania. Part of this group is made up of people with intellectual disabilities. These people cannot grow up alone without the help of their families or carers. The family is the closest environment with which a person with intellectual disabilities spends most of their time. It is therefore very important that families receive the timely and necessary support from social workers. Families caring for a person with an intellectual disability face a number of challenges. For this reason, it is important to ensure that families receive the necessary support from social workers. Problem of the research: Social worker activities with families caring for an adult with intellectual disabilities. Subject of the research: Social worker activities with families caring for an adult with intellectual disabilities. The purpose of the research is to: Identify social worker activities with families caring for an adult with intellectual disabilities. Research objectives: 1) Provide an overview of the concept of intellectual disability in Lithuania; 2) Describe the difficulties of a family in caring for an adult with an intellectual disability; 3) Describe the social services provided to families caring for an adult with intellectual disabilities; 4) Identify the activities of the social worker when working with families caring for an adult with intellectual disabilities. Research methodology and subjects: The study was carried out using a qualitative research approach, using semistructured interviews to collect data. The data collected was analysed using a coding, sub-categorisation and categorisation methodology. Three social workers working with families caring for an adult with intellectual disabilities participated in the research.Empirical research results: Summarising the results of the study, it can be concluded that among the preventive services provided to families, the most important are the comprehensive family services and the activities for families. In the comprehensive services, families are informed about new social services, changes in benefits or new developments, and in the sessions, family members can participate in meetings with psychologists about strengthening emotional well-being. For general services provided to families caring for an adult with intellectual disabilities, it can be seen that the social worker informs families about existing services in the community or changes in benefits. One of the social workers in the study also states that it is necessary to be able to convey the information to the family in a good way so that it is understood. Counselling takes place about new services that have become available and about other agencies to which an adult child can refer. Mediation and representation is usually needed to help with applications to other agencies, for other services, for home help or for a personal assistant. In summary, the results show that the following services are provided as part of the provision of special social services to families caring for an adult with intellectual disabilities: psychosocial support for the family and respite care. Psychosocial support is provided by psychologists, cultural specialists and personal care workers. Temporary respite is provided not only for the person with intellectual disabilities, but for the family as a whole. Temporary respite is also very important for the well-being of the family as a whole. The results on the provision of respite services and the activities of social workers suggest that respite services are paid. Day social care is cheaper than short-term care. Keywords: Intellectual disability, family, social services, social worker, adult with a disability.