In brief
The Ministry announced a €7 million investment under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to build and equip integrated health and social residential care services for 43 elderly residents in the Montana Region. Existing facilities will be upgraded, and new units in Lom, Montana and Chiprovtsi will bring capacity to 91 residents by 2035. The policy is part of a wider national map that aims to provide care for 121 seniors and support 498 people in private homes, while 2,683 residents with disabilities receive assistance under the Personal Assistance Act.
The Bulgarian Ministry of Labour and Social Policy has outlined a data‑driven plan to establish integrated health and social residential care services for 43 elderly residents in the Montana Region, a move that follows a comprehensive review of the region’s care infrastructure reported on 13 November 2026.
Under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), the state earmarked €7 million exclusively for Montana Region, while the national allocation reached €188 million. The ministry explained that the financing is intended to transform all municipally owned care homes to meet updated quality standards, as identified in the National Map of Social Services.
Current capacity in Montana Region includes three existing homes that serve 229 residents. The new facilities will occupy 12 beds in Lom, 23 in the city of Montana and eight in Chiprovtsi, bringing the total projected capacity for integrated services to 91 residents. The integrated model, which combines medical and social support under one roof, will be constructed and fully equipped through the NRRP funds.
Minister Natalia Efremova highlighted that the region’s 11 municipalities already provide assistance services in residents’ homes to 498 people, and that another 2,683 people with disabilities benefit from the Personal Assistance Act. The new residential units are a complement to these services, with priority for at‑home assistance slated to continue despite the expansion of institutional care.
Efremova noted that the municipalities of Montana and Chiprovtsi have already submitted project proposals under the “Support for Integrated Urban Development in 40 Urban Municipalities” procedure, a component of the broader Regions in Growth Programme. These proposals exemplify how EU‑backed funding can be harnessed to design social, integrated, and health care services aligned with national strategic maps.
The overarching goal is to serve 121 seniors of retirement age, as projected by the National Map of Social Services, by 1 January 2035. The planned 43 residential spots represent a growth from the existing 229, emphasizing an integrated approach that merges clinical and social care teams to handle chronic conditions common among older adults.
In practical terms, the new care homes will feature 24‑hour medical staffing, daily therapeutic activities, and a personalised care planning system. These elements are aligned with the National Recovery and Resilience Plan’s emphasis on evidence‑based care models that reduce hospital readmissions and improve quality of life for the elderly.
Stakeholders in public health academia have praised the use of a national care map as a form of data visualization that informs investment in geriatric infrastructure. The map’s structure provides a clear trajectory: assess current bed capacity, overlay projected demographic trends, and allocate funding accordingly. By aligning the 43 additional beds with future needs, the ministry demonstrates a model that could inspire similar initiatives elsewhere.
Economic analyses suggest that integrated care can lower per‑patient costs by reducing the need for emergency transfers to hospitals. While the Ministry’s announcement did not specify cost‑efficiency metrics, the inclusion of €188 million national funding signals confidence that the investment aligns with the strategic priorities set by the European Union and the Bulgarian government’s recovery agenda.
Residents’ families and advocacy groups are optimistic about the expansion, citing the lack of adequate residential care in the region. The shift toward integrated services also reflects a global trend in elder care that prioritizes continuity of care, social engagement, and preventative health measures.
Future updates from the Ministry will likely focus on the progress of construction, the staffing of new facilities, and the integration of home‑based support with institutional care. The policy framework requires all services listed in the National Map of Social Services to be operational by 2035, providing a clear deadline for completion and assessment.
