Poland faces housing gap for aging population despite new care vouchers

Poland faces a growing challenge in accommodating its aging population, which includes approximately 7.7 million people aged 65 or older. While the government has introduced the Senior Voucher (Bon Senioralny) to fund care services, experts warn that this initiative does not address the physical limitations of existing housing.

The Senior Voucher, part of a long-term care coordination law, is designed to help municipalities organize caregivers for tasks such as shopping, meal preparation, and medical assistance. The program has an allocated budget of 1 billion PLN for 2026–2028, with a total projected expenditure of 4.5 billion PLN by 2035. However, the voucher funds human assistance rather than structural home modifications.

Analysts from RynekPierwotny.pl highlight a critical gap: many seniors remain trapped in homes without elevators, with narrow doorways or inaccessible bathrooms. This creates a binary choice between staying in an unsuitable private residence or moving to a care facility. There is a growing demand for 'senior living'—a middle ground offering independent living combined with on-demand services like rehabilitation, meals, and transport—to maintain autonomy for the elderly.