Summary.
The bill creates a Special Comprehensive Home Assistance Program for Older Adults with Disabilities and in a State of Dependency to provide comprehensive care to older adults. Its objectives include home follow-up by an interdisciplinary team; medical and therapeutic services, medicines, and home care; training for the responsible caregiver or family member; and medical and psychological assistance for that person. It defines home care as scheduled assistance that brings biopsychosocial support and care to the homes of people who have lost the ability to carry out basic daily activities independently. It also defines disability, quality of life, and an interdisciplinary team.
The Program would have social workers, community development staff, psychologists, general practitioners and specialists, nursing staff, physical therapists, and other personnel involved in home care. It would be attached to the Ministry of Social Development (Ministerio de Desarrollo Social) through the National Institute for Older Adults (Instituto Nacional del Adulto Mayor), which would coordinate programs for this population. The Ministry of Social Development, through the Institute for Older Adults (Instituto de Adulto Mayor), would request the cooperation of public health institutions to provide the services. Care would include scheduled home visits, medical, psychological, and therapeutic services, medicines, and supplies. It would also include training for caregivers or family members in caring for the people enrolled, as well as periodic medical and psychological assessments of those providing care.
To enter the Program, an older adult would have to be Panamanian, have a disability and be dependent on others, and submit an application form, a copy of their identity card, a diagnosis from a public health institution, and a copy of the caregiver's or responsible person's identity card. The Ministry of Social Development and the National Secretariat for Disability (Secretaria Nacional de Discapacidad) would create a database containing technical information about participants and their caregivers or responsible family members to record assessments and follow-up. The Ministry of Social Development, through the Institute for Older Adults (Instituto del Adulto Mayor), would handle enrollment. The caregiver or responsible family member would go to its offices to complete the form and attach the required documents. After enrollment, that person would receive training.
The Executive Branch would include funding allocations for the Program in the General State Budget. The caregiver or responsible family member would receive the same discounts available to older persons. The bill amends Article 23 of Law 36 of 2016, also identified as Law 36 of August 2, 2016, to add the organization, direction, and implementation of the Program to the functions of the National Institute for Older Adults. The amended article also sets out functions concerning social services, assistance, training, and care centers and programs, with prior authorization from the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud) for their operation. The proposed law would take effect on the day following its promulgation. Its provisions involve the Ministry of Social Development, the National Institute for Older Adults, the National Secretariat for Disability, the Ministry of Health, and public health institutions; they could concern health and care services, older adults with disabilities who are dependent on others, and their caregivers and families.
What it proposes.
- Comprehensive home assistance for older adults with disabilities who are dependent on others.
- Admission, registration, and follow-up for participants.
- Services and training for responsible caregivers or family members.
- Institutional functions and Program funding.
Who it would affect.
- Panamanian older adults with disabilities who are dependent on others.
- Responsible caregivers or family members.
- Public institutions coordinating and providing care.
Key points.
- Creates a comprehensive home assistance Program for older adults with disabilities who are dependent on others.Arts. 1-4
- Attaches the Program to the Ministry of Social Development through the National Institute for Older Adults and provides for cooperation with public health institutions.Arts. 5-6
- Provides for scheduled visits with medical, psychological, and therapeutic services, medicines, and supplies, as well as training and assessments for caregivers or family members.Art. 7
- Requires Panamanian nationality, disability and dependency, an application form, identity documents, and a diagnosis from a public health institution for admission.Art. 8
- Establishes a database for registration and follow-up, in-person enrollment, and subsequent caregiver or family member training.Arts. 9-11
- Provides for allocations in the General State Budget and extends older persons' discounts to the responsible caregiver or family member.Arts. 12-13
- Amends Article 23 of Law 36 of 2016 to assign the National Institute for Older Adults responsibility for organizing, directing, and implementing the Program.Arts. 14-15
- Provides that the law would take effect on the day following its promulgation.Art. 16