site.btaLabour Minister Gutsanov to Open Renovation Works at Sveta Petka Nursing Home in Blagoevgrad

Minister of Labour and Social Policy Borislav Gutsanov is scheduled to launch the renovation of the Sveta Petka Nursing Home in Blagoevgrad on Thursday, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy said.

The Sveta Petka Nursing Home has a capacity of 87 residents. The renovation, funded by more than BGN 5.5 million under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, will involve upgrades to the current building, which was adapted from a former school, as well as the construction of an additional facility. The project aims to offer an environment as close as possible to family life for its residents.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy said that about BGN 750 million has been secured under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to renovate 81 nursing homes and establish 254 new services for people with disabilities, including residential care.

Providing dignified living conditions for elderly people and persons with disabilities, through sufficient high-quality social services, where individuals receive professional and emotional support tailored to their needs, is a priority for the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the ministry also noted.

Labour Minister Borislav Gutsanov briefed European Commission Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness Roxana Minzatu on Bulgaria’s actions addressing elderly care, including tackling illegal nursing homes and plans for new residential centres. Both agreed more social services are needed as Europe’s population ages. Minzatu noted demographic challenges will be addressed through the European Care Package, aiming to support and protect care workers.

Three unlicensed private social care facilities were uncovered in the areas around Varna during inspections earlier in June. That followed shocking findings during earlier inspections in other parts of the country. Elderly people with their legs tied, heavily sedated, locked in rooms with horrifying conditions, without bed linen, with the window handles removed, and cut off from the outside world were found at two locations in the village of Yagoda, Stara Zagora Region, during a joint operation. The residents were 75 men and women, aged between 51 and 86.