Ljubljana, 22 March 2022 – Care for the most vulnerable members of society is one of the main responsibilities of any society, it is a moral duty, or obligation, and as such, clearly shows the level of maturity of society. By launching the e-care project, Slovenia acknowledges the opportunities offered by the digitalization and reaffirms its commitment to being a modern, inclusive society with a strong sense of empathy.
The Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy approved EU finding for the call for proposals ''e-care at home'' back in January 2022. The Ministry of Health launched the call for proposals and selected Telekom Slovenije that teamed up with the Slovenian Federation of Pensioners Associations to provide the services of e-care at home.
The free telecare services will help the seniors age 65 and older who mostly live alone or younger individuals with reduced self-care ability due to health-related conditions to live longer and safer lives at home. E-care is a comprehensive set of services and technological solutions or devices that fosters ageing in place; it provides telecare services to empower older individuals to stay autonomous, independent and safe in their home environment. E-care services enable a faster response in an emergency at home, and significantly relieve informal carers as well as the public health and social care service providers by reducing their caregiving burden.
The project was presented at a press conference featuring Minister responsible for development and Cohesion Policy Zvone Černač, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health Alenka Forte, President of the Slovenian Federation of Pensioners Associations Janez Sušnik, member of the management board of Telekom Slovenije dr Mitja Štular and head of e-care and e-health at Telekom Slovenije Peter Pustatičnik.
Minister Zvone Černač underlined that the pandemic and its impact importantly shaped the decisions taken at the European Union level. This resulted in the adoption of the largest stimulus package ever bringing support under different EU funds and programmes. ‘’Up until 2030, Slovenia will be able to use a record amount of funding. This is an immense opportunity for our country, yet at the same time, it places a huge responsibility on our shoulders; we’ll have to plan and use this funding in a smart and prudent way. One of the projects to receive funding is the project of e-care at home. This project paves the way towards implementation of the act on long-term care which has long been overdue,’’ said the Minister.
He explained that the project e-care at home is part of a future system that will improve safety and quality of life of people who need in-home support and help because of their age or health condition. The project is part of the country’s broader efforts to improve the quality of life of vulnerable groups, and to ensure safer ageing and better inclusion of people in need of help. ‘’Care for the most vulnerable members of society is one of the main responsibilities of any society, it is a moral duty, or obligation, and as such, clear shows the level of maturity of society. By launching the e-care project, Slovenia acknowledges the opportunities offered by the digitalization and reaffirms its commitment to being a modern, inclusive society with a strong sense of empathy,’’ highlighted the Minister.
Minister Černač added that a total of EUR 93 million were earmarked for elderly care to co-finance the construction of as much as 18 retirement or nursing homes across the country in the coming two years. In addition, the planned renovation of the main building of the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, set to receive nearly EUR 50 million in REACT-EU funding, will make Slovenia’s healthcare system stronger and better. The country also plans to invest in the renovation of the general hospitals in Murska Sobota, Novo mesto, Ljubljana, Maribor and Šempeter pri Gorici.
Dr. Alenka Forte, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health said that e-care services aim to significantly contribute to ensuring quality and safe living of older adults, which will help them stay longer in their homes. ‘’We’re particularly pleased that the project e-care at home, which will be implemented across the country, is set to kick off soon. With the project, services of telecare will be provided to a large number of beneficiaries,’’ she added.
‘’Modern technologies make life easier and propel the development of solutions that increase safety, improve quality of life and keep people healthy. The pronounced ageing of society, which has been characteristic of nearly all developed countries, has also resulted in a growing need for long-term care provided to older adults in their homes, which is where e-care services come in. I’m pleased that the government and the relevant departments took on board the proposal of the Strategic Council for Digitalization and decided to support the deployment of free telecare services to older adults who live alone, to the disabled and to all individuals who need assistance and help to live more independently in their home environment. It’s important that we build on already tested technological solutions with a proven track record which are designed on advanced technological concepts. Telekom Slovenije is committed to giving its fair share to this goal by providing know-how, experience, reliability and modern solutions. By working closely together with the relevant government departments, we aim to put Slovenia on an equal footing with the most digitally advanced countries,’’ explained dr. Mitja Štular, member of the management board of Telekom Slovenije.
Janez Sušnik, president of the Slovenian Federation of Pensioners Associations stressed on this occasion: ‘’Compared to developed EU counterparts, Slovenia lags hugely behind in terms of providing elderly care at home. Much too often, our elderly end up being overlooked and left to themselves. We welcome the decision of the government to ensure free e-care, which is already an integral part of the social care system in developed countries. These efforts are a stepping stone towards ensuring safe ageing in place for older adults who live alone. Our Federation knows well the needs of the elderly and we assure you that we will do everything we can to spread the word about this EU-funded project, how to access the services it offers and why it is so important. At the same time, I would like to highlight that a nationwide awareness-raising campaign is necessary and I call on the Ministry of Health to join the campaign. I also call on the relevant authorities to start the discussion on how to ensure financial support to extend the use of free e-care services up until the adoption of the act on long-term care.’’