In brief
The Bulgarian government plans to establish integrated health and social residential care services for 43 elderly people in the Montana Region, with €7 million from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan covering construction and equipment. Services will be located in Lom, Montana and Chiprovtsi and are slated to be ready by 1 January 2035. This move follows the Ministry’s push to upgrade existing facilities and prioritize at‑home assistance while phasing out specialized institutions.
On Friday during parliamentary question time, Labour and Social Policy Minister Natalia Efremova announced that the Bulgarian government will establish integrated health and social residential care services for 43 elderly residents in the Montana Region, with all facilities to be operational by 1 January 2035 under a €7 million investment from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
The plan will provide care for 12 residents in Lom, 23 in Montana and eight in Chiprovtsi, bringing the region’s total capacity to 91 people when the new homes are completed. The Ministry highlighted that Montana already has three elder‑care establishments, serving 229 residents, and the national Map of Social Services expects an additional 121 places for retirement‑age residents.
Bta reports that the funding earmarked for the region represents a significant portion of the NRRP’s broader €188 million national allocation for re‑forming municipally owned care homes to meet quality standards. The projects are part of the “Support for Integrated Urban Development in 40 Urban Municipalities” procedure, itself a component of the Regions in Growth Programme.
The integrated facilities will focus on elderly people who cannot care for themselves, offering both medical care and social support. Municipalities of Montana and Chiprovtsi have submitted proposals backed by EU funding, and the state will also continue to provide assistance services in residents’ own homes—currently available to 498 people across the region.
In addition to the new homes, the government will maintain support under the Personal Assistance Act for 2 683 individuals with disabilities throughout the Montana Region, according to Efremova’s remarks.
While the ministry emphasized the urgency of closing specialized institutions, the plan also raises questions about long‑term sustainability of the new facilities. Critics argue that 91 beds may fall short of the projected 121 elderly of retirement age, and there is debate over how the quality standards will be monitored as construction proceeds.
Analysts note that the NRRP funding will cover construction and equipment but say the ongoing operational costs will fall on local councils. The Ministry has pledged to keep at‑home assistance a priority, suggesting that the integrated homes should complement rather than replace community‑based care.
Background
The Montana Region’s current elder‑care infrastructure consists of three municipally owned homes. These facilities serve 229 residents and were built prior to the NRRP’s quality‑upgrade mandate. The Ministry’s shift to integrated health and social services is part of a broader national strategy to modernize elder‑care, reduce institutionalisation and expand home‑based support.
Open Questions
The exact timeline for construction remains unclear, although the ministry said all services must be established by the deadline of 1 January 2035. Stakeholders are asking how the project will handle the projected demand for 121 additional places, and whether the current 91‑bed target will suffice.
There is also uncertainty over the financial model for post‑construction operations. While the NRRP grant covers initial setup, the Ministry has not detailed how municipalities will finance ongoing staffing and maintenance.
Finally, the Ministry’s strategy to phase out specialised institutions has sparked debate over how to balance institutional care with community‑based models, especially for residents who require intensive medical support.
