“There is not a single institution that will participate in the long-term care system that is fully prepared for this. The Ministry has not done its job, municipalities are turning a blind eye to what their tasks are – and to be perfectly honest, the law has not even defined them clearly,” says Irena Tovornik, Head of the long-term care entry point at the Celje Social Work Centre (CSD).
The long-term care project, one of the key reforms of the Robert Golob government in the field of social protection, is facing major problems just before the mandatory contribution is introduced on the 1st of July. This is also when the right to long-term care at home was supposed to come into force, but implementation has been delayed due to the unpreparedness of the information system at the social work centres. The first entitlement – family member as a carer – has also been delayed by several months, according to the media outlet N1.
The Ministry of Solidarity-Based Future promises that the system will be ready by September, but interlocutors warn that implementation could be delayed even further, dragging into winter. Below, we are introducing the views of users, social workers and aid providers, who point to the chaos on the ground and the gap between promises and reality.
Employee of the Celje Social Work Centre: “The Ministry has not done its job”
Irena Tovornik, Head of the entry point for long-term care at the Social Work Centre Celje, pointed out: “There is not a single institution that will participate in the long-term care system that is fully prepared for this. The Ministry has not done its job, municipalities are turning a blind eye to what their tasks are – and to be perfectly honest, the law has not even defined them clearly.” She believes that it is the social work centres that have been “thrown” into the role of assessors by this government.
She will never be able to accept that they are supposed to be the ones with the carrot and the stick. “We are here for the people,” she was clear. Their aim is to help as many people as possible, but they will also have to assess on the ground who is and who is not entitled to a service. They have an assessment tool that is very rigorous. They will become unfriendly in people’s eyes because they will not be able to recognise their right to long-term care.
Many service recipients will not be eligible for new care
The Secretary of the Community of Social Work Centres, Tatjana Milavec, warns that the threshold for entry into the long-term care system will be high, which means that many current recipients of social welfare services will not be eligible for new care. This was also demonstrated by pilot projects, the results of which showed that about one fifth of applicants did not meet the required conditions. Nevertheless, people’s expectations are high as the introduction of the right to long-term care at home coincides with the start of the new mandatory financial contribution intended for it.
The Ministry presents the system in a “fairy-tale way”
Criticism has been levelled at the Ministry for presenting the system in a “fairy-tale way”, even though there are serious limitations, such as staff shortages. The case of Nadja, a user caring for her mother with dementia, shows the uncertainty and lack of information. Although she has submitted an application for long-term care, she has not yet received a reply, nor does she know what to expect. Nevertheless, she supports the introduction of the contribution as she believes that helping the elderly is a necessity. However, she pointed out that if people pay, they will also rightly expect to have access to care when they need it.
Less help than they should get, given their needs
An analysis by the Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia showed that just over 9,000 people were receiving home care at the end of 2023, while almost 2,000 beneficiaries remained on waiting lists due to staff shortages. The number of providers with waiting lists is increasing, and many beneficiaries are receiving less help than they should according to their needs. The Ministry of Solidarity-Based Future estimates that 13,000 people will apply for long-term care at home this year. Providers who are already struggling to provide home care will also have to provide long-term care. As the two services are not mutually exclusive, beneficiaries will be able to benefit from both at the same time.
Martin Kopatin, Director of the Pristan Association, the largest private provider of home care, pointed out, “There is no experience yet with the assessment and eligibility for long-term care. For existing home care users, we are therefore not yet in a position to assess whether they are eligible for long-term care at all, and if so, to what extent. No decision has yet been issued, so it is difficult to predict anything.”
Many people do not understand the new system
Many people also still do not understand the new long-term care system and are not aware of their rights, experts warn. There is a lack of concrete calculations to help individuals make a decision, as other benefits, such as the Help and Attendance Allowance, may be affected if the right is exercised.
Social Work Centres have a backlog of applications for long-term care and for the position of family carer, but are not yet in a position to issue decisions because the information system is not yet in place. Assessments will be carried out in the applicants’ homes, but changes in health status are possible, which means that some will have to be reassessed.
Problems due to lack of staff and disorganisation
The introduction of long-term care in Slovenia is facing serious problems, mainly due to a lack of staff and disorganisation. Social Work Centres are not yet fully staffed, training started late, the information system is not yet in place, and decisions cannot be issued. Operators point out that they do not have the conditions to start work. Some have refused to participate despite recent price adjustments due to the low cost of services.
Staffing crisis and request for a 20 percent supplement to staff salaries
Social care organisations are warning of a staffing crisis and are demanding a 20 percent supplement to the salaries of long-term care staff to prevent departures and attract new staff. Without this, there is a risk that users will be left without services or forced to seek help outside the official systems. Kopatin stressed that attitudes towards employees will show whether long-term care is really a priority for the country.
Domen Mezeg
