Deputy Minister Denitsa Nikolova: We are building 74 new social centers for disabled elderly people in the country and we start closing down the old homes

Deputy Minister Denitsa Nikolova: We are building 74 new social centers for disabled elderly people in the cou

25 Apr 2018 | 11:54

With EU funds, the MRDPW integrates the most vulnerable groups of society into institutions close to the family environment

The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works will invest more than BGN 41 million in the construction of 6 daycare centers for people with dementia and 68 centers for elderly people with intellectual disability and mental disorders in 29 municipalities in the country. This was announced by Denitsa Nikolova, Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works and Head of the Managing Authority of OPRG, who launched an awareness day to present the social program with the participation of experts from the beneficiary municipalities. Funding is provided under Operational Program “Regions in Growth” 2014-2020 under measure “Support for deinstitutionalization of social services for elderly people and people with disabilities” under Priority Axis 5 Regional Social Infrastructure.

“This measure is one of the main priorities of the government as a social policy for the integration of vulnerable groups that we have been implementing since 2010. This way we allow children at risk and elderly people with disabilities to properly integrate and settle in more favorable places to live, unlike existing homes, which rather lead to their isolation from society,” Nikolova said. She reminded that under Operational Program “Regional Development” 2007-2013 and with the support of Operational Program Human Resources Development, 132 accommodation centers for families and 26 protected homes for children at risk have been built in the country. The implementation of the measures contributed to the closure of the old homes. In addition, eight centers for medical and social care for children have been reconstructed with the possibility of launching new community services for the prevention of abandoned children aged 0 to 3 years.

“In this programming period, using the options of the two operational programs we continue the policy of deinstitutionalization of children, but more in terms of launching services related to the establishment of daycare centers and centers for public support and transitional housing for children at risk in the 15-21 age group, by which we will close the remaining old institutions for children deprived of parental care,” Deputy Minister Nikolova added. She reported progress in implementing the deinstitutionalization policy, with almost all projects with beneficiary municipalities currently negotiated.

“Today, through this awareness day, we are launching a follow-up to the Action Plan under the National Adult Care Strategy. The resources of BGN 41 billion is small compared to the needs, so we cover the most vulnerable group as a priority, trying to integrate them and provide them with a fairer standard of living,” the Deputy Regional Minister explained. She added that the financing under OP “Regions in Growth” 2014-2020 was aimed at realization of the construction and repair work and the supplementary financing by the OP “Human Resources Development” will fund the provision of the care and social-healthcare services. Deputy Minister Nikolova expressed hope that this type of social policy would have continuity and support for funding opportunities in the future programming period after 2020. “This, however, requires us to show results under the projects, how we ensure a fairer standard of living for the vulnerable groups”, pointed out Nikolova and urged the beneficiaries to work towards achieving the objectives of the projects.

The 29 beneficiary municipalities are: Varna, Veliki Preslav, Veliko Tarnovo, Vratsa, Gabrovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Dimitrovgrad, Dryanovo, Kazanlak, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Malko Tarnovo, Novi Pazar, Pernik, Plovdiv, Ruse, Svishtov, Svoge, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Strumyani, Topolovgrad, Targovishte, Haskovo, Shumen, and Yambol. These are included in the Residence Services Map and the Community Support Services Map, developed by the Agency for Social Assistance and the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria. The main objective is to provide access to quality social services for the disabled people and the elderly people in accordance with the Action Plan 2018-2021 for the implementation of the National Long-Term Care Strategy.