More than 2,000 people wait for specialised care in Estonia

More than 2,000 people were waiting for specialised social care services in Estonia at the start of October, with the queue remaining at a similar level month after month, ERR reports. The Social Insurance Board says the situation is critical.

Board figures show that 2,049 people were in the queue in October, while more than 2,200 applications had been made for places. Lagle Kalberg, head of the board’s special care and rehabilitation department, said more than 700 people had indicated they were ready to start a service immediately if offered a suitable place.

However, the board cannot always meet their needs. Applicants may want a place close to home when none is available, or funding for the service may be lacking, Kalberg said. At the start of October, 54 places were vacant. The board is waiting for people offered those places to respond within 10 days.

The number of people waiting is about 200 lower than at the start of the year. Kalberg said more people had been directed into services, and changes to the board’s procedures in the spring had led staff to contact people in the queue to check their circumstances and whether they were ready to take an available place.

Some people leave the queue after the board contacts them and discusses their ability to manage, family support and other services that may be available. A person can also use up to three special care services at the same time, which helps explain why the number of applications for places exceeds the number of people waiting.

Supreme Court ruling and funding

In April, Estonia’s Supreme Court ruled that the state must secure a place in a special care home for anyone found to need one. It said the government cannot budget less than is required to meet its legal obligations. A shortage of public money does not justify leaving an eligible person without assistance, and the state must work to provide enough places, including through cooperation with private providers and local governments.

The Ministry of Social Affairs sought an additional 200 million euros over four years to create new places and raise wages for staff in special care homes. The state budget bill submitted to parliament last week does not include that allocation. Instead, the government decided to provide up to 37 million euros over four years for the wider social and health sector.