Elderly care rights face challenges in Italy over home care and RSA subsidies

Legal and administrative challenges are impacting the rights of elderly patients to access integrated home care (ADI) and nursing home (RSA) subsidies in Italy. Legal interpretations clarify that the right to home care cannot be automatically denied to patients who meet clinical requirements simply because they are temporarily residing in a location other than their official residence, such as a hotel-style facility or a relative's home.

Simultaneously, the Fondazione Promozione Sociale Onlus has raised alarms regarding the classification of non-self-sufficient elderly patients as ‘deferrable’ (differibili). In regions like Piedmont, this classification is being used to indefinitely postpone the activation of healthcare conventions for RSA coverage. This practice reportedly affects even those with severe chronic conditions who meet regional criteria for support, leading to a lack of essential healthcare and social assistance for vulnerable populations.