Over 4,000 senior citizens on nursing homes waiting list
The Ministry of Health started the program of converting hospitals into nursing homes for the elderly. The decision was taken as a result to the huge difference between supply and demand.
Articol de Răzvan Stancu, 06 Aprilie 2011, 13:46
The Government claims it wants to develop the network of nursing homes for the elderly, financed by the state budget, through a program designed to turn 67 hospitals into nursing homes, shows a statement from the Ministry of Health.
According to data from the Ministry of Labour, at present there is an insufficient number of nursing homes for senior citizens, compared to the number of people who need social services.
Thus, at the end of 2010, the number of requests on the waiting lists was of 4,180 people for a number of 130 nursing homes, of which 77 were state financed homes with a capacity of approximately 5,000 spots and 53 homes belonging to several associations and organizations with a capacity of 1,850 spots.
The conversion of several hospitals into nursing homes for the elderly
Starting this month, the Ministry of Health began the program for the transformation of some hospitals into nursing homes for senior citizens.
The program is scheduled to be completed in about three years.
According to data provided by the Ministry of Health, the nursing homes founded will have a budget of 220 million lei for a period of three years, this amount being financed from the state budget.
According to estimates of the Ministry, a number of 1,500 to 4,200 senior citizens will benefit of this program, depending on how many hospitals will be reorganized.
The situation in Bucharest
According to data provided by the Directorate for Social Assistance in Bucharest, all senior citizens can benefit of social services upon request that can also come from a legal representative, a court or other non-governmental organisations.
The right to social assistance is determined by the social survey and the criteria in the national evaluation form for the needs of the elderly people.
The expenses for the elderly are covered by extra-budgetary revenues and grants from the state budget.
The average monthly cost of maintenance is determined annually by local or county commissions, before adopting their own budgets.
8.3 lei per day, the minimum food allowance per person
An issue raised by the General Directorate for Social Assistance for district 3 is the minimum food allowance, amounting to 8.3 lei per day, determined by a Government decision in 2008.
Nursing homes for the elderly need doctors, social assistants, psychologists and nurses.
Based on the information provided by the Bucharest Directorate for Social Assistance and the local council of district 3, there are three residential centres for the elderly, subordinated to district directorates: The residential centre for senior citizens "Hope", the Medical-Social Centre "St. Luca" and the centre for care and social assistance dedicated to the elderly "Casa Max".
In Bucharest in district 3, there is only one centre dedicated to senior citizens – namely the above mentioned "Casa Max", and this year another centre will be open, according to data provided by the local council of district 3.
The centre has a capacity of 80 spots and provides housing, care, rehabilitation, support and assistance, psychological counseling, medical treatment and advice.
Translated by: Manuela Stancu
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University
