Integrirani model socijalne podrške, mobilnosti i digitalne uključenosti na otoku Lastovu

English translation. This entry was submitted in Croatian. It was translated by AI and checked against the original by a second pass. The Croatian text below is the contributor’s own, and it is the authoritative version. If you spot a translation that misses the point, please say so in the General space.

Integrated model of social support, mobility and digital inclusion on the island of Lastovo

Udruga Val (Val Association) has developed an integrated model that connects social gatherings, home help, organised transport and digital inclusion for older people. Most older people on Lastovo live alone in their own household or with a partner who is also of older age, which increases the risk of social isolation and difficult access to services. Regular meetings encourage social inclusion, while home help allows people to remain longer in their own homes. Organised transport ensures access to health and administrative services on the island and beyond. At the same time, through the "Lastovski bural" portal and the introduction of simple digital solutions, older people are able to connect with the community and family and to access online content. The association also actively advocates for the availability and development of public services for island communities. The model is adapted to the conditions of an isolated island environment and is based on trust, flexibility and years of work in the community.

What it sets out to do

The aim is to improve the quality of life of older people in a small island community through connected support.

Who it reaches

the island of Lastovo

Who runs it

Udruga Val (Val Association), NGO

What seems to make it work

The effectiveness of the model is based on a small, stable team of employees who have the community's long-standing trust and a direct relationship with users. Local partnerships (health institutions, the local self-government unit, organisations and the informal community network) are key, as they enable coordination of services. The design of the service is flexible and adapted to island conditions – schedules are aligned with ferry timetables and the real needs of users, without rigid procedures. A culture of direct contact and an individual approach plays an important role, relying on oral communication rather than formal tools. Digital solutions (e.g. "Lastovski bural" and simple technologies) are introduced gradually and adapted to users. Continuous advocacy further strengthens the system and the visibility of island communities' needs.

What gets in the way

The biggest challenge is the lack of systematic support and the uneven application of the law in island areas. In practice, one often gets the impression that the island's remoteness serves as an excuse for slower responses, non-response by institutions and the absence of timely services, even though standards should be the same for all citizens.

An additional problem is that civil society is systematically under-supported, despite the fact that it is precisely community organisations that best know the real needs of users and take on, day to day, part of the responsibility that should be resolved systematically. Small teams therefore often work beyond their capacity to make up for the system's shortcomings.

Organising transport and access to health services is made difficult by limited ferry lines and weather conditions, which requires constant adjustment and extra effort. Through its Living Lab, the association actively tests and introduces the most effective digital and technological solutions for users, but there is a lack of systematic support in the form of up-to-date and accessible state catalogues (for example for medical aids/equipment), which makes it harder to choose and apply suitable solutions, and these are not funded from the social and health care system.

What we would do differently: clear institutional accountability and consistent enforcement of the law are needed, along with systematic recognition of the specific features of island communities. Long-term, stable investment in civil society organisations, as key providers of services in small and remote communities, is also essential.

How it is funded

Services are funded by a combination of local (Lastovo Municipality, Dubrovnik-Neretva County), national and EU sources. The home-help programme is funded at local level, while the development of new services is carried out through projects. Sustainability is based on a small team, rational use of resources and a strong connection with the community. At the same time, there is a constant annual financial risk and uncertainty due to delayed payments, which sometimes arrive even after a project has ended, which is why the work is often carried out on a minimum budget, and occasionally even at a financial loss.

Moving it somewhere else

For the model to be successfully applied in other countries or communities, it is essential to ensure consistent enforcement of existing laws and clear institutional accountability, regardless of geographical distance. Systematic, long-term funding of civil society organisations that work on the ground and know users' needs best is key.

The model requires flexibility in organising services (especially transport and access to health care) and adaptation to local conditions. It is also important to develop supportive frameworks for introducing technology – including up-to-date and accessible catalogues of solutions (e.g. medical aids/equipment) and their adaptation to users.

Without genuine partnership between the public sector and local organisations, and recognition of the specific features of small and remote communities, this kind of model is difficult to replicate sustainably.