"Now I can get from my house to my car on my own. My husband no longer has to carry me," says Gunita, a resident of Saulkrasti, with a smile.
Creativity plays an important role in Gunita's daily life. She paints, designs advertisements and communicates with clients. Art is not only her hobby but also a way to take her mind off her health challenges and regain strength. Until recently, however, a major obstacle stood quite literally right outside her front door.
Thanks to home accessibility improvements carried out under the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility investment administered by the Ministry of Welfare, Saulkrasti Municipality implemented accessibility adaptations in four homes, including Gunita's.
A paved pathway was built leading to her home, enabling her to leave the house independently, reach her car, welcome visitors and spend time outdoors with others. In everyday life, this means much more than simply moving around more easily. It means greater independence, less reliance on other people's assistance and the opportunity to lead a more active life.
Gunita is especially grateful to the social workers of Saulkrasti Municipality, who stayed in regular contact with her throughout the project and helped her navigate the administrative process.
"They kept me informed after every stage, so I wouldn't worry and would always know how everything was progressing," she says.
Gunita's story reminds us that what may seem like just a few metres of paving to one person can mean the freedom for someone else to leave home independently, meet other people, continue working and enjoy a fuller, more active life.
An accessible environment is more than infrastructure – it is an opportunity to live independently and participate fully in society.
In cooperation with municipalities across Latvia, this programme is improving environmental accessibility in the homes of more than 200 people. Each home is adapted individually, with solutions tailored to the specific needs of each person. These are practical, everyday improvements whose true value becomes clear once they are put into use.
This is a joint effort – where people’s needs, professional expertise, and the commitment of all parties involved come together to find solutions. It is through this collaboration that results are achieved that truly improve quality of life. Because every person matters.
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