Vilnius day centre for people with severe disabilities to close, leaving families without support

A day centre in Vilnius that has provided critical support for adults with severe disabilities for nearly 30 years will shut its doors in September, leaving 16 families without essential care, LRT.lt reports.

Families received notice in mid-April that the Vilties (Hope) School and Multifunctional Centre would no longer offer adult day-care services, forcing them to seek alternatives. The centre’s closure has left parents like Aldona Jankaitienė, whose 36-year-old son Mantas has relied on its specialised care since childhood, without viable options.

“We don’t know why the centre is being eliminated,” Jankaitienė told LRT.lt. “It seems someone decided we don’t belong here. We’ve been told: ‘You’re evicted—go find another place.’ There’s no solution. Why the rush? It feels like war has broken out.”

Vilnius municipality, which oversees the centre, maintains that adults with disabilities will be able to access services elsewhere. However, families argue that alternative facilities are ill-equipped for individuals with severe needs. Jankaitienė described one proposed centre as a “half-basement” with poor ventilation and cramped conditions, while others lack the staff or resources to provide adequate care.

“Our children would be locked up like in prison,” she said. “Other centres serve people with milder disabilities—those who can use public transport independently. Our children need total assistance: feeding, toileting, hygiene, even lying down to rest after seizures.”

The Vilties centre has been a lifeline for families since opening its adult wing 15 years ago, offering not just practical support but also a stable, familiar environment. Jankaitienė emphasised the deep bonds formed over decades: “The children know each other, the staff—they’re like family. One girl calls my son her ‘little angel’ and watches over him. Where will they find that now?”

Ramunė Lebedytė-Undzėnienė, head of the Lithuanian association Viltis (Hope) for people with intellectual disabilities, confirmed that Vilnius lacks suitable day centres for adults with complex needs, leaving families with few alternatives.