Home help service budget to rise by 36pc

This amount represents an average increase of 36 percent in comparison with this service's budget for 2005.

During the same meeting the council also approved the outsourcing of this service, which will be put out to tender.

The main novelty is that Palma is being divided into two areas “to give a better service”.
Zone 1 will be formed by Cuitat Antiga and Llevant, and Zone 2 by Estacions, Nord, Mestral and Ponent.

The budget for each zone during the next two years will be 4'168'788.71 euros.

In 2005 the Home Help Service helped 1'104 people, although in actual fact the number was higher as in some cases there was another person in the family who needed help. Of the total amount of people helped, older people represented 88.2 percent and people with some kind of disability formed the other 11.8 percent.

By gender, 72.92 of those helped were women, the other 27.08 percent being men.

The districts of Rafal Nou, El Vivero, Son Gotleu, Santa Catalina and Son Rapinya were those where a greater percentage of people are now being helped. Since the start of the present Balearic Government's term of office, in 2003, up to last year, there has been a rise of 50 percent in the number of people being attended to by the Home Help Service, and a rise of just 20 percent in the budget for this service.

The requirements for a person to receive this service are: l to be registered as a resident with Palma council

· to be 65 years old or more

l or to have some type of physical disability l and to have difficulty doing things for themselves.

For more information on the service, ring 971 22 59 77.

This service receives its financing through the Spanish Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs' Basic Help Plan and S'Institut.

The Home Help Service is putting in place plans directed at supporting personal independence such as, for example, feeding, support for domestic chores, and maintenance of the home.

They also do things aimed at maintaining personal and social wellbeing, such as helping with personal hygiene, dressing and eating, helping a person take their medicines, and help with mobility and company inside and outside of the home.

As well as all this, the service carries out activities for education, integration, rehabilitation, and specific technical support.