FOSTER FAMILY FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED AS AN INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY OF SOCIAL SERVICE

The article discusses the features of social services for the elderly in modern Russian society. In order to improve and maintain their health, activity, support, and in the absence of decent living conditions, older people can stay in stationary or semi-residential institutions that provide a full range of social services, and can also receive home care, remaining in their usual home conditions. . However, due to their difficult financial situation, many elderly citizens are not always able to pay for social services. Also, the lack of places in specialized institutions, limited funding, overcrowding of nursing homes and boarding schools necessitates the search for alternative and innovative forms of social services for the elderly and disabled. As a special and effective form of life arrangement for the elderly and disabled, their placement in a foster family is considered, by providing family support and creating full-fledged social and living conditions. The foster or substitute family model has been developed in a number of European countries and the USA. The introduction in Russia of an alternative model of a foster family for the elderly and disabled will help solve their pressing problems, as well as provide them with constant care and concern. A foster family for an elderly person is a good opportunity in the future to abandon the activities of nursing homes, in many of which the elderly live out their lives, in the truest sense of the word. This technology provides an elderly person with the necessary care and living conditions, leisure activities, psychological support, and additional material support for a foster family. The development of the institution of a foster family for the elderly as an innovative form of their life arrangement will significantly improve the quality of life of older citizens, change their “social well-being”, save them from the problem of loneliness, and strengthen the connection between generations. Solving social, social, psychological and other problems of older people requires more active participation of civil society and society, a constant search for effective forms of social services.