Physical and Mental Rehabilitation
Physical Rehabilitation and Social Adaptation is one of the Ukrainian Red Cross’s strategic areas of work. The programme was launched in May 2023 and has been implemented since February
2024. It includes a range of activities aimed at restoring and improving people’s physical and psychological well-being. The Ukrainian Red Cross provides free rehabilitation services to people who need support following illness, injury, or the effects of war but do not have access to the care they need in their communities.
Our Impact
These figures represent just a part of our ongoing efforts to assist individuals facing difficult life circumstances.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Останні новини
GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE
The programme is currently active in 14 regions: Lviv, Volyn, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Chernihiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, and Kirovohrad.
To provide additional support, rehabilitation spaces have been established in the following locations:
- Volyn region: Lutsk, Rozhyshche;
- Zaporizhzhia region: Zaporizhzhia;
- Lviv region: Zhydachiv;
- Mykolaiv region: Mykolaiv, Novyi Buh, Snihurivka;
- Ternopil region: Husiatyn, Zaliztsi, Lanivtsi, Monastyrska;
- Khmelnytskyi region: Stara Ushytsia, Letychiv, Shepetivka.
A case management approach is used in the Chernihiv, Dnipro, and Poltava regions to provide tailored support to people who need comprehensive assistance. Case managers work with individuals and families to help them address complex challenges and coordinate the support they need.
Main areas of activity
Community-Based Rehabilitation
Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) is a community development strategy aimed at improving the quality of life for people with disabilities and their families through social inclusion and equal opportunities. Originally launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve access to rehabilitation services at the community level, CBR has since evolved into a comprehensive, multisectoral approach to inclusive development. It mobilises local resources and involves people with disabilities, their families, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and government bodies responsible for health, education, social welfare, and vocational services. This strategy integrates individual support for beneficiaries, the provision of rehabilitation aids, training for professionals and the wider community, efforts to create an accessible environment, and the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Key Areas of Work
1. Mobile Rehabilitation Units.
Mobile rehabilitation units operate directly in the homes of beneficiaries, delivering a comprehensive range of services:
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Physical rehabilitation – Between 3 and 12 therapy sessions are provided, depending on the rehabilitation prognosis, which takes into account the patient’s condition, motivation, and potential to regain function.
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Provision of rehabilitation aids – Specialists assess individual needs and may provide appropriate aids such as walkers, crutches, wheelchairs, handrails, shower chairs, and more. Equipment is supplied only after consultation with a qualified specialist.
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Assessment of the living environment – Specialists evaluate the beneficiary’s living conditions and, where necessary, offer recommendations to improve accessibility. Additional support equipment, such as ramps or handrails, may be provided.
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Psychosocial counselling – Support is offered to beneficiaries and their families to help them adapt to life changes and maintain motivation throughout the rehabilitation process.
2. Raising Awareness
Information sessions for family members and caregivers of people who need rehabilitation services, as well as other community members.
The session introduces the concept of community-based rehabilitation as a comprehensive support system for people recovering from injuries or illnesses after being discharged from healthcare facilities. Participants will learn about evidencebased rehabilitation approaches, the key principles of the rehabilitation process, and the role of communities in creating an inclusive environment. The session also highlights one of the Ukrainian Red Cross’s strategic areas of work — Physical Rehabilitation and Social Adaptation.
The session explores communication as one of a person’s fundamental needs and introduces key principles of respectful interaction, including tolerance, equality, and respect. Participants will learn about the person-first approach, explore inclusive language, and receive practical guidance on communicating with people with different types of disabilities. The session includes interactive empathy-building exercises and a video case study exploring barriers in the modern world. These activities will help participants learn to address people directly and contribute to creating a space that is accessible to everyone.
Designed for children, this session explores how to communicate with and about people with disabilities. It introduces the concept of disability, challenges common myths, and highlights the importance of empathy. Participants will learn appropriate ways to interact with people with different types of disabilities, explore examples of respectful and inappropriate behaviour, and hear stories about well-known people with disabilities. Interactive activities help participants understand how they can promote inclusion in everyday life.
The session is designed to promote effective and respectful communication with veterans and support their transition to civilian life. It provides practical guidance on how to communicate with veterans in a sensitive and supportive manner, avoid potentially distressing topics, and reduce stress during conversations. Particular attention is given to communicating with veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), preventing conflict, and creating a safe and comfortable space for dialogue.
This session helps participants understand what evidence-based rehabilitation means, which methods are genuinely effective, and which are based on myths. It explains, in clear and accessible language, why it is important to follow proven approaches, what effective rehabilitation looks like, and the roles played by the patient, their family, and a team of specialists.
This interactive session helps participants understand the main risk factors for heart disease and learn simple everyday ways to prevent it, such as healthy eating, regular physical activity, and managing weight and stress. Through practical exercises, participants will assess their own health and develop a personal action plan to maintain a healthy heart.
3. Training
Correct positioning and safe transfers are important for ensuring a beneficiary’s comfort and safety and preventing complications. During the training, participants learn the principles of positioning, how to assess a beneficiary’s condition and level of participation in transfers, and become familiar with common body positions and their practical application. The training also covers criteria for selecting the most appropriate transfer method and provides an opportunity to practise basic transfer techniques based on the beneficiary’s abilities and needs.
During the training, participants become familiar with the main types of assistive devices for rehabilitation, their purposes, and how they are used. They also gain practical experience using different mobility-related assistive devices. Particular attention is given to assessing safety and comfort, identifying appropriate and inappropriate use, and understanding how to correctly adjust devices, including their height, markers, and other settings.
The training focuses on fall prevention and developing safe practices for everyday life. Participants learn how to identify internal and external risk factors for falls, assess the safety of the home environment, and make appropriate changes to adapt the environment and improve safety and accessibility. The training also covers a range of exercises to strengthen muscles and improve coordination and balance, helping to reduce the risk of falls and related injuries. The session concludes with practical guidance on what to do in an emergency, including how to provide first aid to a person who has fallen.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Rehabilitation services are available to demobilised, retired, and discharged military personnel, as well as individuals who need to restore lost motor function, improve mobility, or support their emotional recovery following traumatic brain injuries, fractures, strokes, surgeries, or other health conditions requiring rehabilitation.
You can access rehabilitation services by calling the Ukrainian Red Cross hotline at 0 800 332 656.
Yes, all rehabilitation services are provided free of charge.
To receive rehabilitation services, you may need to provide an identity document and sign a consent form for the processing of personal data. This form is usually signed on-site.
Yes. Mobile rehabilitation units provide services to remote communities, especially those outside large cities where rehabilitation support is otherwise unavailable.
Mobile rehabilitation units assess the beneficiary’s needs, considering indications, contraindications, and their functional condition. Following the assessment, the beneficiary can submit an application for an assistive device through the Ukrainian Red Cross. Relevant documents are then signed in two copies.
You can order a training package by contacting the regional coordinator via the Ukrainian Red Cross hotline at 0 800 332 656.
Please contact the regional coordinator through the Ukrainian Red Cross hotline at 0 800 332 656.