September 22, 2023
News
Telemedicine is an innovative way of using technology to provide remote health and care services to vulnerable people, such as the elderly, those with reduced mobility or those living in remote areas. Telemedicine has also become a beacon of hope for Vasile, a 74-year-old resident of the village of Cărbuna in Moldova. Remote care services provided by Caritas Czech Republic have given Vasile back hope and improved his quality of life.
Partnership between technology and human compassion
Vasile has worked as a forester all his life. He has always been an energetic and a hard-working man. His yard was full of animals he bred: horses, pigs, chickens. "We used to breed a whole farm in the yard," Vasile remembers nostalgically.
Vasile used to live in a very remote village. Three years ago he moved to Cărbuna – a village more close to capital - because he wanted to live in a place closer to social and health services. But shortly after moving there, his wife died. After his wife's death, Vasile was feeling lonely and vulnerable. "I don't want to be a burden to anyone," Vasile tells us with sadness in his voice. Although he has three children, they have all emigrated to Italy in search of better future, like most young Moldovans. There are not enough job opportunities in Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, which makes locals move abroad for work.
Thanks to telemedicine, Vasile was able to consult a psychologist who listened to him and helped him at times when he had no one to talk to.
The healing device
Apart from being lonely, Vasile also suffers from diabetes and constantly needs to be consulted by an endocrinologist. The nearest specialist is 50 km away from Vasile’s home, and to get to him, Vasile would have to spend about $5.5 (for one-way trip) out of his pension of not even $100. On top of the travel costs, his arthritis stops him from going wherever and whenever he needs to. That is why the “healing device”, as he refers to telemedicine, is much appreciated in Vasile's home.
Thanks to telemedicine, Vasile receives specialised medical care from an endocrinologist and a psychologist without having to travel long distances or pay large sums of money for transport.
He is very grateful for the support he receives from Caritas Czech Republic. “Telemedicine saves both my life and my money. If there was no such support, I probably wouldn't be alive already. I wouldn't have reached the doctor in time," says Vasile.
The psychological and endocrinologist consultations not only improved his health, but also brought a smile back to his face.
The nurse-patient relationship must be based on compassion and empathy
The "Healing device" reaches Vasile through Natalia, a nurse from the home care centre in Cărbuna. She helps Vasile not only with medical services but also with household chores. Natalia sweeps, does laundry and the shopping he needs. She visits Vasile regularly, about 2 or 3 times a week, but often stops by his house every day because she lives quite close to him.
The relationship between Natalia and Vasile is much more than a nurse-patient relationship. It is a relationship based on human compassion and mutual support. When he needs help, Vasile sits by the window and waits for Natalia to walk by and call out to her if he needs anything.
Apart from Vasile, Natalia cares for 5 other vulnerable people in the area and says she chose this profession because of personal experience. “I grew up without parents and I know how hard it is to be alone and have no one to help you,“ Natalia says.
Telemedicine - a solution promoted by Caritas Czech Republic to provide home care services for vulnerable people
Innovative services and nurses like Natalia are succeeding every day to provide people like Vasile not only with medical care, but also with a ray of hope and comfort.
From 2021, Caritas Czech Republic is focusing its efforts on transforming the health and social care system in Moldova and promoting telemedicine as a solution to provide home care to vulnerable people in the country.
In partnership with the non-profit association Homecare, Caritas Czech Republic is running a pilot project on the implementation of telemedicine in 8 medical and social centres in Moldova, through which 24 medical and social workers provide remote care services to elderly citizens, those with reduced mobility or those living in remote areas of the country.
This article is part of the project "Technologies for the future - telemedicine in home care in the Republic of Moldova" implemented by Caritas Czech Republic in partnership with A.O. Homecare and funded by the Czech Development Agency.
