Social Welfare Homes are struggling with financial problems resulting from the principles of assigning subsidies from the state budget that is not arguing – said the Supreme Audit Office. Experts indicate that Poland is in a group of countries with the lowest expenses for long -term care.
According to the Supreme Audit Office, despite the growing costs of maintaining the inhabitants of social welfare homes, the amount of subsidies from the state budget remains unchanged for years, which leads to financial deficiencies, the outflow of staff, and as a result of the implementation of services below the required standards.
The results of the NIK audit published on Tuesday showed that social welfare homes are struggling with financial problems that result from the principles of assigning subsidies from the state budget that are incompatible to reality. The Chamber revealed numerous irregularities in the way of assigning funds in all voivodships.
The publication of the NIK report was accompanied by an expert debate. The Secretary of State in the Chancellery of Prime Minister Marzena Okła-Drewnowicz announced that in the coming months it is planned to adopt the Act on long-term care.
– At my request, the Minister of Finance reviews expenses when it comes to long -term care. And based on this expenditure review, we will be able to propose financing, but also quality monitoring in all long -term care, because we simply lack it – said Okła -Drewnowicz.
She informed that the development of long -term care was also included in the proposals of the Senior Policy Department of the Prime Minister to the medium -term country development strategy until 2035.
Health expert, OECD representative Jacek Barszczewski said that Poland is in a group of countries with the lowest public expenses for long -term care. – High costs are covered by beneficiaries and their families – Barszczewski pointed out.
He pointed out that in Poland long -term care is regulated by two systems – health care and social services. This – as the expert noted – creates coordination problems.
– The elderly do not always go where they should, this service is not always selected for their needs. (…) There are staffing problems. Currently – according to OECD data – in Poland there are 0.23 long -term care worker per 100 people aged 65 plus, with the average OECD is 5 times as much – Barszczewski pointed out.
He emphasized that professional long -term care services are covered by about 18 percent. people who need it. – It leads to a situation that people with needs are strongly dependent on family help or, unfortunately, in the worst cases these needs are not met – said the expert.
The Supreme Audit Office informed that at the end of 2024 the number of high -controlled social welfare homes operating in the country was 780, including 210 on behalf of poviats. These facilities offered 78 250 and 14 159 places, respectively.
The NIK report pointed out that from 2004 the poviat has been a subsidy from the state budget to the residents of DPS conducted as part of its own task or on its order, placed or directed before January 1, 2004, i.e. on the so -called old rules. This means that some issues, such as fees for staying in the DPS or the rules of receiving, may be regulated differently than in institutions operating “on new rules”.
Pursuant to the Act on social assistance from 2024, the voivode may increase or reduce the amount of subsidies for the poviat. The issue of distribution of funds received as part of the subsidy lies with the poviat.
NIK control showed that in all voivodships irregularities were found in the method of calculating a targeted subsidy from the state budget for poviats running or commissioning the running of high -mounted social assistance homes.
In addition, voivods did not carry out the required number of inspections in social assistance organizational units and facilities providing 24 -hour care for disabled people, chronically ill or elderly people.
According to the Supreme Audit Office, despite the insufficient number of inspectors for supervision and control in social assistance, there was no sufficient number of recruitment for these positions, and those that were announced often remained without a decision, the main due to unattractive remuneration.
At the same time, the Chamber indicated that the starosts properly secured the availability of social welfare homes in the poviats. The number of places in the DPS secured the needs, while in some types of houses a few years of waiting period for placement were found.
The findings of the inspection show that the internal organization of the DPS allowed to respect an individual approach to each of the residents, taking into account the respect for their rights. DPS also met the required standards in the field of nutrition and organization of meals. The pupils were assured in occupational therapies, cultural and tourist events, assistance was provided in dealing with official matters and and religious practices. They were equipped with the necessary clothing and footwear, cleaning products and assistance was provided to maintain personal hygiene. Access or help in using healthcare was provided.
The report indicates that the DPS did not fully provide the implementation of living, caring and supporting services in all cases. One facility did not install an elevator adapted to the needs of disabled people and no roasters were created in it. In addition, DPS did not meet all sanitary conditions, there was a lack of the right number of bathrooms and toilets and not all of them were adapted to the needs of the disabled. In another DPS, rooms were smaller than required.
The NIK in the report appealed for transparent and effective legal solutions so that nursing homes could fulfill their functions and provide care at the appropriate level. (PAP)
KKR/ Jann/
