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«Odysseus» Community Home
«... on the road to "Ithaca" on the road to social re-integration»
The identity of the Community Home "ODYSSEUS"
Psychosocial rehabilitation unit established under Law No 2716/99 (article 9)
regulating the development and modernisation of mental health services, within
the framework of the programme "Direct Support of the Dromokaitio Psychiatric
Hospital of Athens" implemented by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
"ODYSSEUS" Community Home began operating in December 2001, at 39 Filipou St., Halandri, Athens.
"ODYSSEUS" is financed and supervised by the Greek Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
(ministerial decision Y5b/oik. 2234/8.10.2000).
"ODYSSEUS" is a long-term shelter, providing psychosocial support services to eight adults
with chronic mental health disorders and learning disabilities.
"There is no failure except in no longer trying" ELBERT HUBBARD
Operation principles
The principles of outpatient care, psychosocial rehabilitation, social integration and
re-integration underpin the operation of the Model Home.
The staff
The staff members constitute an interdisciplinary team with a variety of expertise
(psychiatrist, psychologists, social worker, sociologist with considerable working
experience, nurses, physiotherapists). The team also includes a landlady - housekeeper,
responsible for providing food and looking after the house.
The staff works in rotation on a 24-hour basis, in order to meet the needs of the
ambitious programme of "ODYSSEUS".
The objectives of the operation of "ODYSSEUS"
Community Home "ODYSSEUS" provides a therapeutic environment of care and
support to its residents. By taking into account their differences and by
respecting their individuality, the Home supports their transition from the
long-term institutional care to the active social re-integration.
Our immediate and long-term objectives include:
- Gradual autonomisation in both personal and community life, while attaining
the highest degree of independence and dignity.
- Enhancing contact between residents and their families.
- Vocational training and rehabilitation.
- Continuous training of the specialised staff, contact and cooperation
with other units and actors with similar goals and lines of action.
- Informing and raising awareness among local people about the
therapeutic management of individuals with chronic mental
disorders and learning disabilities.
- Training and practical training of undergraduate students.
- Creating apartments with a view to house residents capable of living on an autonomous or semi-autonomous basis.
- Research work.
Attaining these objectives, implies:
- Ensuring and applying rules concerning group living.
- Harmonising daily life inside and outside the Home according to the rhythm and needs of today's social circumstances.
- Participation of residents in the daily needs for the management and care of the community Home and life.
- Involvement in personal care and hygiene.
- Free management of the residents' personal space and time.
- Encouraging social contact and relations with other members of the community.
- Individual and group activities promoting socialisation and independence.
- Participation in pre-vocational training and educational programmes.
- Various recreational activities within or beyond the city limits.
- Cooperating and maintaining regular contact with the residents' families.
- Establishing and maintaining cooperation relations with neighbours, community actors and the mass media.
Services provided under the programme:
- Shelter and food.
- Individualised psychiatric and nursing supervision and care.
- Psychological and psychotherapeutic support.
- Addressing social and welfare issues.
- Training for the acquisition of various skills (self-care, road behavior, management of personal financial resources, etc.)
- Ergotherapeutic activities (handcraft workshop, painting).
- Recreational activities.
- Regular medical supervision and dental care.
- Collaboration with public and private actors, in order to train residents and find them a job.
Other activities
- Weekly meeting between residents, during which:
- The residents are informed about various issues.
- Issues concerning group living and questions of general interest are discussed.
- Various activities are planned.
- Weekly events organised within the Home. The guests include family members,
as well as people from the local and wider community.
- A workshop where handcrafted artifacts are made and then sold.
- Planning summer vacations and group outings for recreational and educational purposes.
- Creating a group of volunteers.
"They can because they think they can" VIRGIL
35b, Filipou Str, 152 35, Halandri, Athens - Greece
Τel: +30 210 6399189
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