The Red Button Saves Lives! A project brought to life through a grant from Switzerland

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Online desk FDFA

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The system developed within the project “Red Button – Integrated medical social homecare services monitored through tele-assistance”, co-financed by a grant from Switzerland through the Swiss Contribution to the enlarged European Union, is already in place and functional in Bucharest, Constanta, Buzau and the County of Giurgiu. The total budget of the project amounts to 284’285 CHF, out of which 249’326 CHF represent the Swiss grant.

The main idea of this project emerged from the alarming statistics concerning the situation of elderly in Romania, showing their health is constantly depreciating as a result of limited access to emergency medical or social services and lack of financial resources to buy medicines. By the help of a wristwatch arm fitted with a panic button, connected to a phone that on its turn connects to a Call Centre, the elderly can report an emergency situation by pressing the red button. The system aims to answering to the needs of the elderly that are dependent, living alone in their homes, with low income and that cannot receive long term care in hospitals. In addition, the project proposes an innovative approach to home care for elderly by providing a complex of services tailored to the needs of the beneficiaries. The project has been implemented for 24 months by the White Yellow Cross Foundation Romania in partnership with Four Change Association, White Yellow Cross Buzau and White Yellow Cross Constanta.

The Regional Seminar The Red Button - Innovation and Technology in the Home Care System, organized in Bucharest on September 28, marked the closing of the project "Red Button - Integrated Home-Based Care Services-Telematics-Assisted Services". On the occasion, Ambassador of Switzerland, H.E. Urs Herren, Ambassador of Belgium, H.E. Thomas Baekelandt, President of White Yellow Cross Foundation, Professor MD Ion Bruckner and representatives of local authorities took the floor during the seminar works.