Samaritans make semi-finals of Social Innovation Competition

The project Samaritan Mobile Care Complex by Latvian Samaritan organisation LSA has been selected as a semi-finalist in the European Union’s Social Innovation Competition.

The project addresses the lack of appropriate care facilities for elderly people in rural Latvia. LSA deploys “mobile care offices” to these areas. This enables the elderly to continue living in their own home and enjoy relative independence up to a high age, sparing them from the stress often associated with being forced to move into social care housing. The direct services are complemented by emergency alarm buttons and a system for daily support for local transport, grocery shopping and organised neighbour support in emergencies.

The EU’s social innovation competition, which focuses on sustaining growth in times of social and demographic change, has determined Samaritan Mobile Care Complex to be one of the best 30 projects in the competition.