People who need daily social and healthcare support will in the future have access to more accessible, needs-based assistance, with social and care services integrated and provided through a “one-stop-shop” approach.
The Ministry of Social Security and Labour and the Ministry of Health are currently preparing a draft Law on Long-Term Care Services, which would establish an integrated long-term care services (IPP) model in law. Public consultations on the draft law will be held soon, along with an assessment of its regulatory impact.
Minister of Social Security and Labour Inga Ruginienė emphasized that the need to establish a long-term care system that meets people’s needs has been discussed for many years, making it important to finally move forward with concrete action.
“I am glad that we are finally at the finish line. Our goal is very clear: people should be able to receive all the social and healthcare assistance they need through a ‘one-stop-shop’ approach, without having to visit different institutions and determine who is responsible for what. Assistance must be organized around people’s needs, rather than around institutional boundaries. Less bureaucracy for individuals, better communication between institutions and, most importantly, accessible, high-quality and dignified assistance in one place,” said Minister Ruginienė.
“Our society is aging, and more and more people need assistance at home or the option of living in an institution where their needs can be properly met, while relatives should not be forced to choose between work and caring for their loved ones. Long-term care services will make it easier for people to access the assistance they need, with less bureaucracy, while ensuring that state resources are used more efficiently and that services and assistance are not duplicated. The need to integrate nursing and care systems has been discussed for a decade, and I am glad that these discussions are finally turning into concrete work that is necessary for both residents and the state,” said Minister of Health Linas Kukuraitis.
The draft law provides for:
- integrating social and nursing services at all levels — at home, in day centres and in residential institutions;
- establishing three levels of need for long-term care services — low, medium and high — with appropriate services provided based on the level of need identified;
- providing long-term care services according to a unified model. Service providers would be required to obtain a long-term care services licence, while separate licensing requirements would apply to healthcare activities;
- financing long-term care services through state and municipal budgets, the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund and individuals’ own contributions;
- applying the principles governing the financing of social services when determining the amount an individual must pay for services.
It is planned that long-term care services will be financed from four sources: the state budget, municipal budgets, the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund and individuals’ own contributions. Municipalities are expected to account separately for funds allocated to long-term care and to recalculate these amounts annually, taking into account the economic indicators published by the Ministry of Finance.
The draft Law on Long-Term Care Services and related legislation are expected to be submitted to the Seimas no later than November 2026. The Law on Long-Term Care Services is planned to enter into force on January 1, 2029.
