{"id":25975,"date":"2025-05-01T13:57:07","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T10:57:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ldn.org.ua\/?post_type=event&p=25975"},"modified":"2025-05-01T14:43:35","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T11:43:35","slug":"quality-healthcare-development-of-adequate-infrastructure-and-respect-for-defenders-priorities-of-veteran-policy-in-the-tlumach-community","status":"publish","type":"event","link":"https:\/\/ldn.org.ua\/en\/event\/quality-healthcare-development-of-adequate-infrastructure-and-respect-for-defenders-priorities-of-veteran-policy-in-the-tlumach-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Quality Healthcare, Development of Adequate Infrastructure, and Respect for Defenders \u2014 Priorities of Veteran Policy in the Tlumach Community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Author: Yuliia Bilyk, Communications Manager at the Legal Development Network<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2024, in cooperation with experts from the <\/strong>Vidnova project<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, the Tlumach Community of the Ivano-Frankivsk Region developed a comprehensive Support Program for service members and war veterans, their families, and the families of fallen and missing Defenders of Ukraine for 2025\u20132027. As part of the development of veteran policy in the community, a sociological survey was conducted to identify and analyze the needs of local residents, particularly veterans and their families. This article highlights the survey\u2019s findings, which may serve as guidance for the community\u2019s future steps.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View the comprehensive study of needs and capacity in the Tlumach Community<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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View the results of the sociological survey in the Tlumach Community<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

About the Survey<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The survey in the Tlumach Community was conducted during December 2024. A total of 294 people participated: 210 residents of 16 towns and villages of the community, 71 close relatives of combatants, and 13 veterans \u2014 ten of whom served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine both after 2014 and after the full-scale invasion in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWhile conducting the survey in the Tlumach Community, we observed strong interest from residents in the topic of the research. One challenge our team faced was locating veterans to interview. Since the Tlumach Community is relatively small in terms of territory and population and includes many villages, it was difficult to find veterans in public places. However, we received assistance from the Veterans Affairs Office at the Tlumach City Council, which has established effective communication and a high level of trust with veterans,\u201d<\/em> said Mykhailo Danyshchuk<\/strong>, a specialist in facilitation, event moderation, mentoring, and expertise for community development in the Vidnova project in the Ivano-Frankivsk Region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given the small number of surveyed veterans, their responses should be viewed as indicative trends that require further verification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The survey was conducted through interviews based on a questionnaire programmed for mobile devices. Most respondents communicated with interviewers directly \u2014 in a street interview format \u2014 while 14 completed the questionnaire online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to surveying community residents and interviewing veterans and their families, the study included facilitated meetings with key stakeholders. A particular focus of the study was placed on the level of satisfaction with basic social, psychological, and economic needs, access to services, and the degree of integration of veterans and their families into the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relationships Do Not Improve After Veterans Return, and Their Families Do Not Always Feel Respected<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The majority of respondents \u2014 8<\/strong> out of 10<\/strong> \u2014 identified support for the Armed Forces as a funding priority for the local budget this year. Protecting life, health, and property from wartime threats was the top concern among residents of the Tlumach Community (38%<\/strong>). The second most common concern was the financial situation (33%<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a rather high demand among civilian residents for information on how to communicate with people who have combat experience \u2014 53%<\/strong>. An overwhelming 98%<\/strong> of respondents support the introduction of traditions to honor veterans. Similarly, 97%<\/strong> expressed support for the following proposed forms of veteran support: the creation of preferential education programs for veterans, assistance in launching small businesses or self-employment, and the provision of preferential housing. A total of 77%<\/strong> of respondents expressed a personal interest in supporting veterans and the families of service members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At the same time, when assessing their life circumstances, veterans of the Tlumach Community rated their relationships with close relatives and housing conditions the highest. Overall, veterans had a positive perception of their relationships with neighbors, colleagues, and acquaintances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cCompared to the neighboring Kolomyia Community, where relationships with both close and not-so-close individuals ranked highest, the situation in the Tlumach Community is somewhat different. Here, relationships with neighbors, colleagues, and acquaintances are slightly weaker. What is important to consider is that in no community did veterans\u2019 relationships with others improve after returning. In the best-case scenario, they remained the same. But for many veterans, their relationships deteriorated after coming back,\u201d<\/em> emphasized Maryna Shpiker<\/strong>, sociologist and coordinator of the comprehensive research teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In most cases, veteran status is not met with a clear public attitude \u2014 neither support nor stigma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBased on the survey results in two communities of the Ivano-Frankivsk Region, we observe a certain trend: more often than not, veterans feel a neutral attitude toward themselves. However, they are still more likely to feel respected than disrespected,\u201d<\/em> noted Maryna Shpiker<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the families of veterans, they are less likely than the families of active service members to feel respected due to the fact that their loved ones served in the defense of the country. Moreover, relatives of veterans tend to assess various aspects of their discharged family members\u2019 lives more pessimistically \u2014 particularly in terms of relationships with close and distant circles, opportunities for self-realization, and their economic situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Volunteers Are the Primary Providers of Support<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three-quarters of respondents were able to name at least one provider of support for veterans and military families in the community. The most commonly mentioned were volunteers (54%<\/strong>), followed by the city council (41%<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAmong the support providers, volunteers are in first place, followed by the city council. These findings are consistent with the results of the survey in the Kolomyia Community. However, in the Tlumach Community, respondents mentioned civil society and international organizations, as well as religious communities, less frequently than in the Kolomyia Community,\u201d<\/em> commented Maryna Shpiker<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For most of the surveyed veterans, the most pressing needs relate to social support and financial assistance, medical services, recreation, wellness, and psychological support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAccording to the responses from veterans in the Tlumach Community, they are concerned about their health, and the availability and quality of medical services. They are often dissatisfied with their interactions with public healthcare facilities and emphasize that the medical sector in the community needs strengthening. This is a major pain point for them,\u201d<\/em> emphasized Maryna Shpiker.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the survey, the key barrier to providing veterans with medical treatment, rehabilitation, wellness, recreation, and sports opportunities is the lack of resources and inadequate infrastructure in the Tlumach Community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Residents Are More Likely to Seek Help from State and Municipal Institutions than from Non-Governmental Ones<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One interesting survey finding is that most of the veterans surveyed are more willing to seek the services available to them from local government bodies and municipal institutions than from non-governmental (civil society, international, or private) organizations: 11<\/strong> out of 13<\/strong> veterans preferred public institutions, while only 5<\/strong> out of 13<\/strong> indicated a willingness to turn to non-governmental providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cHalf of the surveyed veterans are unwilling to seek assistance from non-governmental organizations, which may indicate a tendency toward mistrust or a lack of positive experience in interacting with civil society and charitable organizations. This factor should be taken into account when shaping veteran policy to avoid situations in which community residents, for various reasons, do not respond to offers of support from NGOs,\u201d<\/em> noted Maryna Shpiker.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, 73%<\/strong> of surveyed family members of veterans, 74%<\/strong> of families of the missing and fallen, and 59<\/strong>% of family members of active service members said they were willing to seek services from non-governmental organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Financial Situation of Service Members\u2019 Families Is Relatively More Stable Than That of Veterans\u2019 Families<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most common needs among families of combatants are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n