Writing about an institution whose activities include caring for "mentally ill and elderly individuals" is a highly challenging and difficult task. It is easy to list definitions, job descriptions, statistical data, difficulties, and successes in a bureaucratic manner... but to convey the essence of this work on paper requires much more. It is necessary to portray the spirit of our institution through direct experience and practical examples, as unique as all those who live and work here.

This is primarily a story about people and their destinies. About people who stand by each other, whether they are service users or providers. From an internal perspective, it is not merely a service job but a mutual, interwoven life from day to day - and it has been like this for 70 years.

The first mention of organized care for the mentally ill in Novi Bečej dates back to 1789. As part of the general policy of the Hungarian authorities concerning the regulation of "lunatic asylums," Turski Bečej was highlighted as a place where local authorities needed to care for people like the "unfortunate" Jeca Aćimčev, so that his behavior would no longer disturb his fellow citizens.¹

At that time, two settlements, Vranjevo and Turski Bečej, existed independently of each other. After several unsuccessful initiatives to merge them, this was finally achieved in 1946 under the name Vološinovo. This name was changed in 1952 to today's name, Novi Bečej. However, in this part of the history of social welfare in the area, we will consider them as one.²

During the following year, the "Home for the Elderly" continued its operations, funded by the provincial authorities, and officially registered on February 10, 1949. The Executive Council of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina appeared as the founder.¹⁰
In 1950, at Milošev put no. 8, the Begej District established a Home for Mentally Disabled Women (psychiatric facility for women) and adapted the building for those needs. This later became the so-called second department.¹¹
A monthly report from 1950 shows that there were six employed workers and about 50 users, mostly over 40 years old.¹²

Aunt Eva - a little woman from Bačka whose family was liquidated by fascists and collaborators. Two nephews survived and were placed in a children's home somewhere in Bačka. They would visit their aunt during holidays and school breaks. Aunt Eva occasionally visited them at the children's home. They were always welcomed at our home as if they were her own children and could stay for several days.

I particularly loved Aunt Eva. She often took care of me at home when my mother attended seminars or had other obligations. She would sleep over at our apartment, and we considered her a family member.

According to the job systematization at that time, besides the director, the Institution employed: one social worker, an accountant, a cashier - administrative clerk, an economist - warehouse worker, a nurse, two orderlies, two cleaners, two cooks, a laundress, and a janitor. For healthcare and treatment needs, the Institution had a contract with the Novi Bečej Health Center for general practice, with doctors changing every month. The specialist service for mentally ill women in the second ward, and as needed for other wards, was provided by Dr. Ivan Popov from Novi Sad. They worked four hours a week. A dentist also occasionally visited, engaged for two hours a week.²⁰

By the late 1980s, the first signs of the future crisis, which would culminate in the 1990s and whose consequences are still felt today, began to appear. In 1989, Branimir Lisičin took over the leadership of the institution. Reports from those years mention the deterioration of living and working conditions for both employees and beneficiaries, as well as "defense plans" in case of wartime danger...

During 2011, extensive construction and technical work was carried out to refurbish spaces across all three departments. Within the first department, a room on the attic was adapted for the daily stay needs of users. Roofs were replaced on all buildings, and the modular building was fully insulated with panels. As part of these efforts, a new sanitary block was constructed adjacent to the modular accommodation pavilion, approximately 60 m2 in size. The second department saw the construction of a storage area, around 50 m2, for storing excess user belongings.

Although we will strive to use as little professional jargon as possible in presenting our Home, we must start officially by saying that it is an institution of "social protection in transformation" headquartered in the municipality of Novi Bečej, tasked with providing residential accommodation services, "Supported Housing" services, and non-institutional protection services through the Day Care Club and the "Home Help" service. It is intended for the elderly, as well as for adults with mental and intellectual difficulties, or in other words, all categories of adults and the elderly - independent, semi-dependent, and dependent. In accordance with the Social Protection Act, we provide our users with housing, health care, and the fulfillment of all other life needs.

The Home "St. Basil of Ostrog - Miracle Worker" as a social protection institution addresses the social and life problems of users, bringing the activities of social work to the forefront.
Advisory work, psychosocial support, empowerment, assistance in realizing certain rights, contacts with relatives and referral centers for social work are just some of the activities within the framework of social protection that are applied daily in working with users. The main bearers of these tasks in our institution are social workers.

An institution with many users and employees, as well as a plethora of diverse and responsible tasks, must have an appropriate legal and financial-accounting service to ensure everything operates within legal and regulatory frameworks and in accordance with sound business practices.
At the very beginning of the institution's operations, all administrative tasks were combined and performed by part-time workers. The first accountant was Ana Vlaškalin. In March 1962, Dragoljub Vrebalov was employed, initially as an administrative worker and then as a secretary. He was soon appointed head of accounting, a position he held until his retirement in 1996. Vrebalov was among the first to have an accounting worker certificate and was also the founder of the first trade union organization in the institution.

After the establishment of the Home, maintenance of facilities and equipment relied on the help of the users themselves and janitors. Larger tasks, such as interior and exterior painting, yard maintenance, building repairs, and similar activities, were carried out through work actions involving all employees and beneficiaries.

However, as the number of users unable to participate in such work due to their health condition increased, there arose a need to hire professional staff. Thus, in 1976, the first mason, Laslo Kiš, was employed. Ten years later, an electrician position was created, and Šandor Horvat was hired, followed by Janoš Bartus in 1987, who later transferred to a driver position. In 1992, Geza Čikoš was employed as a painter.

The kitchen at the Home has existed since 1950. The first kitchen staff included Jelena Beljuc, Marija Trifunjagić, Milena Maljugić, and Leposova Stanković. Until the early 1970s, these four women were the backbone of the kitchen. The kitchen was located next to the main building, near the auxiliary facility. It consisted of two rooms that opened into the courtyard. The dining room for one hundred people was connected to the kitchen. There was a smaller room adjacent to the kitchen where freshly bought groceries were prepared.

The social protection service bases its professional activities on the most modern principles, methods, and techniques. An individual approach to each user is essential, irreplaceable, and constantly present in institutions of this type. Although the entire social service activity is focused on studying all the factors that contributed to the user entering the institution, individual work primarily takes into account the structure of their personality.

Non-institutional, or open care, refers to the provision of local community services, which is a form of social and health care for people who have entered a state of social need, whether due to old age or illness. These individuals require professional and general social assistance to overcome life's difficulties and continue living in their natural environment. The open care system consists of a range of measures and activities, as well as organizations and services, with the aim of prolonging the independence and good psychophysical health of the users. The activities of non-institutional care are funded by the resources of local government and the institution organizing this type of care, through projects, and in recent years also through earmarked transfers from the budget of the Republic of Serbia. Part of the costs is borne by the users themselves through co-payment.

The service users of the “Saint Vasilije Ostroški - Miracle Worker” Home in Novi Bečej are adults and elderly individuals from all categories, including adults with mental difficulties.
Although for most users, multiple reasons contribute to the need for residential care, the most common reason for placement is illness.

Everything that has been accomplished so far and described in this book is the result of the work, dedication, commitment, and expertise of the employed workers, without exception—from cleaning staff to the management. Their names are therefore woven throughout all chapters of this book, to a greater or lesser extent.

At the Adult and Elderly Home “Saint Vasilije Ostroški - Miracle Worker,” various profiles of employees work. These include social, health, and administrative workers, craftsmen, cooks, and auxiliary staff. However, despite their undeniable expertise in their respective fields, we must again emphasize their qualities, such as: helpfulness, empathy, communication skills, collegiality, openness, and others.

Since its founding, the Adult and Elderly Care Institution "St. Basil of Ostrog - Miracle Worker" has been focused on cooperation with numerous institutions, organizations, and entities, finding its place within the broader protection system and enhancing its ability to fulfill its purpose more effectively.

First and foremost, there is the indispensable collaboration with the local community and authorities in Novi Bečej, as well as with all relevant provincial secretariats, national ministries, the National Health Insurance Fund, numerous social work centers, humanitarian organizations (such as the Maltese Organization), the Red Cross, associations of disabled people, the media, the Orthodox Church, and other religious communities, as well as economic organizations.

On September 25, 2008, a gathering was organized for residents, their relatives, and guardians. Similar events had been held in previous years, but what was new this time was that the psychiatry department acted as the host for all guests, regardless of which department their relatives or wards were housed in.

The decision to hold the gathering in a single location allowed us to combine our efforts and create an unforgettable atmosphere.

A beautiful, sunny late October day. We are traveling to Mol. The occupational therapist, Dragana Lazić, Miša, and I. The car's wheel is in the safe hands of Dragana Ivančeva, so we can relax and, while chatting, enjoy the beauty of the landscape we are passing through. The landscape is typically Banat, then Bačka. I remembered that song, "Flat as nowhere, all is flat...". But all this flatness is bathed in Miholjsko sunshine, which caresses the fragrant fields and the hardworking farmers who are rushing to finish their work before the rains and snow come.