“The year of 2020 was a tough one both for our country and our organization given the COVID-19 pandemic and the war, to the consequences of which we tried to respond as fast as possible supported by the ICRC, IFRC, and other partners,” said ARCS Secretary General Anna Yeghiazaryan at ARCS Gyumri 24-hour Care Center while meeting with the staff and beneficiaries. “Although we are not in a festive mood today, we have just met, to sum up this year, during which the ARCS took over the management of the center. We do our best to work together more effectively for the good of our beneficiaries.”
According to a memorandum signed with the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in December 2019, the Armenian Red Cross Society took over the management of the Gyumri nursing home, making investments aimed at improving the quality of life and care services for the beneficiaries.
In September 2020 with the financial support of the Austrian Development Cooperation and in cooperation with the Austrian Red Cross, the Armenian Red Cross Society launched a new program "Working together for quality care, well being and a dignified life.
The goal of the program is to significantly improve the quality of ARCS Gyumri's 24-hour care center through improved minimum standards and staff trainings.
The planned reconstruction work for the year 2020 was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, since the nursing home, which was renamed to Gyumri Gyumri 24-hour Care Center, has been functioning under strict quarantine. Nevertheless, the Armenian Red Cross Society reconcluded the working contracts with 92 percent of staff, whose salaries were raised. Since May 1 daily shift has been set up in the Center with each of the 6 buildings having a daily caregiver. The staff is periodically trained.
The 24-hour Gyumri Care Center is home to 144 single elderly people also with disabilities over the age of 65, who are served by 65 employees. On the eve of the New Year, they all received small gifts.
