The Monaco Government has presented its National Support Plan for Aging and Dependency Care in the Principality. Among the announcements is the raising of the minimum residency period before public aged care facilities can be accessed.
“Home-based care now concerns 600 seniors in the Principality and the Department of Social Affairs and Health is constantly working to raise the level of quality of service so that home care continues to improve for beneficiaries and their families”, said Didier Gamerdinger, Minister of Social Affairs and Health, during the presentation on Monday 17th June. He also emphasised the important role that the National Council plays in this field.
Recent efforts include upgrading the rates of self-help benefits, the signing of an agreement with the companies providing personal services, and the issuing of a Sovereign Ordinance making it compulsory for these companies to be officially authorised.
At the same time, a procedure for reporting adverse events has been implemented by the Health Action Directorate and the debate continues on solutions for improving the homes of the elderly.
Meanwhile, a think tank was recently organised with a group of professionals to further improve the link between the city and the hospital so as to avoid successive re-hospitalisations that lead to a loss of autonomy.
With regards to institutional dependency, the government highlighted that the average age of people who are received at institutions is 87 years, and that the Principality currently has 342 places in institutions for dependent elderly people.
Mr. Gamerdinger said that the National Support Plan for Aging and Dependency Care will involve the implementation of the most appropriate responses for various situations in the years to come.
He highlighted the ongoing work on the Résidences du Cap Fleuri and the Hector Otto Foundation located in the Jardin Exotique district, which will bring 150 additional places in the short term and take the total to 492 places.
He also announced the establishment of a new accommodation facility for dependent elderly people on the outskirts of Boulevard du Larvotto.
The Prince’s Government, in consultation with the National Council, has also decided to raise the conditions for prior residence in Monaco, reserving Monegasque public institutions for people who have shared a significant enough time of their lives in the Principality, increasing this period from five to 30 years.
“These actions are part of the high-level objective that the Principality has set itself,” said Mr. Gamerdinger. “The Prince’s Government implements the indispensable means to preserve the excellence and solidarity dimension of our social model.”