With more people living longer, access to quality long-term, health and social care is increasingly important. In Slovakia, the Banská Bystrica self-governing region has risen to this challenge through targeted community-based social service centres. 

The centres were set up in October 2021 with funding from the EU Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) and are located in three small areas. In collaboration with local municipalities and social and health care providers, the project provides high-quality, coordinated and targeted services. 

Older citizens with long-term care needs like Ladislav have greatly benefited from the new services. ‘Thanks to the project, my complicated living conditions caused by my health and low income started to improve,’ he stated. The community-based centre provided Ladislav with financial planning support and personalised support. ‘I am assisted with my disability pension arrangement and have better access to health care.’ 

Older people in these areas now have greater access to preventive measures – including home care, outpatient and residential long-term care services – coupled with measures that make day-to-day life easier and more enjoyable, such as transport services.  

In addition to providing greater access to care, the centres make use of new and innovative technologies to monitor the health of people like Dezider: ‘Thanks to the project I got an intelligent wristband, which is monitoring my vital signs.’ The wristband also functions as a safety and security measure, which can give families the peace of mind that their loved ones are safe. ‘I can even use it to call for help if I need to,’ Dezider explains. ‘I live at the edge of our village, have health issues and this service gives a feeling of safety to me and my family.’ 

The project aims to help around 100 older people and plans to build more than 20 additional centres across the region. Thanks to these facilities, Slovakia’s older citizens are being given the care and dignity they deserve.