Social services and long-term care form a component focused on the ageing of the population and on changing the way care is provided. The focus is on the transition from large institutional facilities to smaller family-type community homes and to services provided in the home environment, referred to as deinstitutionalisation. It finances the construction and reconstruction of facilities, their equipment, the expansion of field and outpatient services, and support for informal carers. Applicants are municipalities, self-governing regions, non-public providers and non-profit organisations. In addition to capacity, projects are also assessed on how the service is provided and on compliance with the principles of community care – a project that enlarges a large-capacity facility will generally not receive support. The budget must therefore also include staffing capacity, without which a community service does not work. A shortage of carers tends to be a bigger obstacle than a lack of space.
See also: Grants for Social Services, Social inclusion project, Registered social enterprise.
