Elderly care service shortages in Emilia-Romagna

The Emilia-Romagna region is experiencing significant challenges in providing care for non-self-sufficient residents. Data indicates that approximately 12,000 people are currently on waiting lists for public residential care facilities (RSA). While the regional administration under President Michele De Pascale has increased funding for non-self-sufficiency to 568.2 million euros for the 2025-2027 budget, the demand for services is expected to grow as the number of non-self-sufficient individuals is projected to rise from 220,000 in 2025 to 370,000 over the next two decades.

Specific geographic disparities have emerged within the region. In the province of Parma, service rates for elderly care are significantly lower than the regional average. For residents aged 85 to 89, Parma reports 2.6 assisted individuals per thousand inhabitants compared to a regional average of 14.1. For those over 90, the rate in Parma is 5.1 per thousand, while the regional average is 26.2. Critics have noted that these figures suggest “concrete inequalities in service access” regarding long-term residential and dementia care.