Italy elderly care faces high costs and long waiting lists

Regional authorities and political leaders in Italy are highlighting critical shortages and financial burdens within the elderly care system.

In Basilicata, Regional Guarantor for the Right to Health Tiziana Silletti has conducted inspections of nursing homes and residential facilities. She noted that approximately 4,000 non-self-sufficient elderly individuals rely on over 90 facilities. Key issues identified include the heavy economic burden on families, with monthly fees sometimes exceeding 2,400 euros, and a lack of specialized medical services such as neurological and physiotherapeutic visits within the structures.

In Emilia-Romagna, specifically within the province of Reggio Emilia, political leader Pietro Vignali reported that 1,636 elderly individuals are on waiting lists for residential care. This figure represents nearly 13% of the total waiting list for the entire region. Despite an increase in the Non-Self-Sufficiency Fund, which is set to reach nearly 594 million euros, critics argue that increased funding alone is insufficient without better programming to address the structural lack of available beds and long waiting times.