Lolland plans 200 million kroner in cuts as elderly fear closures

Lolland Municipality is considering major cuts to elderly care, including reducing the number of care homes from 10 to three, Danish broadcaster DR reported. The proposals have raised concerns among older residents about reduced care and less human contact.

Residents voiced their concerns at a meeting in Højrebyhallen in Søllested on Monday, organised by Ældre Sagen Lolland, an organisation representing older people.

Tom Svendsen from Horslunde said his main concern was that older people would suffer if there were not enough care homes.

The municipality’s proposed savings package also includes fewer care housing units, greater use of medicine robots in home care and so-called automated case processing. The package proposes savings of 200 million kroner across Lolland Municipality.

The proposals do not specify exactly how the changes would affect older people’s daily lives. Svendsen said he was particularly concerned that increased automation would make personal contact with older people more distant.

Tine Vinther Clausen of the Liberal Party, chair of the municipality’s health and elderly care committee, said she would listen to residents’ concerns. She stressed, however, that cuts were necessary and that any reduction in the number of care homes would not happen immediately.

Social Democrat Torben Klitmøller Hollmann, deputy chair of the committee, said he would take one idea from the meeting back to the council: creating communities for people living in towns.