Armenian government to release 5 billion drams annually for disabled people to pay for services of personal assistants

YEREVAN, August 12. /ARKA/. The government of Armenia will be allocating 5 billion drams annually (more than $10 million) for the disabled people to pay for the services of personal assistants.

A decision to that end was approved by the government on August 11. It will come into force starting from January 1, 2024; however, a pilot program will be carried out in 2023.

As many as 2,450 citizens are expected to benefit from the personal assistant service program. Only adult citizens who have received appropriate training will be allowed to work as personal assistants. Also, a family member of a person with disabilities may become an assistant.

The beneficiaries will be people with severe musculoskeletal, visual, mental and intellectual impairments. According to her, families with such disabled people will be placed in the system of unsupported families.

Deputy minister of Labor and Social Affairs Tatevik Stepanyan told a press conference today that personal assistants will be paid 1,050 drams per hour ($2.5). The deputy minister said also that personal assistants will provide three types of services: care, accompaniment and assistance with social integration. ($1 - $406.09 AMD). -0--