Svetlana Vasilevskaya: I want to be close to those who need support

Minchanka of the year Svetlana Vasilevskaya dedicated the social boarding house "Harmony" 22 years. For the past 12 years, she has been working as a psychologist, returning the interest in life to the elderly, a correspondent of the Minsk-Novosti agency reports.

Found a calling

- I did not think that I would connect life with psychology, but fate ordered otherwise, Vasilevskaya began the conversation. — After graduating from the Faculty of Economics of the Belarusian State University, she worked for some time in a specialty in a specialized organization. The boarding house came to work for a banal reason: it was not far from the place of residence. In 2004, she got a job there as an economist and only at that moment she realized what the institution and the sphere of social protection in general represent.

She admitted that she was most impressed by the fate of the wards:

- Before that, life seemed like a picture from Instagram - continuous success, happy smiles, everything is rosy and beautiful. In the boarding house I encountered another side of life: lonely old people, chronic diseases, the daily need of these people for help. It really changed my mindset. I want to be with those who need constant support.

The desire to be useful to those who, due to age or chronic diseases, are deprived of legal capacity, prompted Svetlana to receive the education of a psychologist.

- It is not easy to decide on this when you are over 30 and three children, the Minsk woman of the year stressed. - But I knew I could handle it. I was very supportive of Ilya's husband. He helped take care of the children and the house.

Speak up and be understood n

For the past 12 years, S. Vasilevskaya has been working in the social boarding house “Harmony” as a psychologist.

- The state takes care of older people and people with disabilities in every possible way, the interlocutor noted. Every year, the system of social protection is developing: living conditions are improving, new rehabilitation programs are being created, and psychological support is improving.

She says it starts with diagnosis. The study helps to assess the abilities and motivation of the ward for various types of social rehabilitation and habilitation.

- This is necessary in order to understand the strengths and weaknesses of a person, his needs, as well as what should be relied on in the work, Vasilevskaya explained. Based on the data obtained, we compile a map of the route of rehabilitation care, which allows you to track the dynamics and record achievements.

The second block of psychological support is counseling and personality-oriented conversations.

- It is important for the ward to express his feelings, said the Minsk woman of the year. Talk about everyday and conflict situations, share emotions, experiences, reduce anxiety. In general, to speak out and be understood.

The third, most voluminous module of work is correctional classes.

- One part of them is aimed at maintaining mental activity in the elderly through neuropsychological exercises – fitness for the brain. They include tasks for memory, attention, logic, counting, training thinking with the help of puzzles, scanwords, logical games, chess. We offer educational games to young people with disabilities, the interlocutor shared her experience. The second part of the correctional classes includes art therapy and maintenance of communication skills – the project “Fill life with meaning”. With the help of pencils, paints, plasticine, papers, wards can express what worries them. Other benefits of art therapy include the development of fine motor skills, sensory experience, and the feeling of “I can create something.”.

Waiting for the call

S. Vasilevskaya noted that she often acts as a mediator.

- My task is to help those living in a social boarding house to establish relations with relatives. After all, finding a phone number and calling is not just a technical task, she noted. An elderly person may begin to remember past grievances and become confused, cry, silence. In this case, I suggest topics, smooth out sharp corners - keep the conversation in a safe channel so that it does not turn into a conflict and the loved one does not close in. It happens: an elderly person suffers from dementia, and adult children can not get used to the disease of the mother or father. In this situation, I recommend how to communicate: talk slower, ask simple questions, be patient.

The Harmony boarding house also implements the Generational Connection project, which is aimed at maintaining relations with relatives living in other cities and countries.

- Such video calls reduce the feeling of loneliness in our residents. They feel that they are not abandoned, they are remembered, Vasilevskaya stressed. It reminds me that they are part of the family. It's also an opportunity to talk, to cry. Motivation to move on, meet and talk again.

Photo by Sergei Lukashov and Elizaveta Davidovskaya