Social Democrats Propose Major Investment in Elderly Care
The Social Democrats propose a 2 billion kronor investment in elderly care to hire more staff and reduce medication costs.
- • 2 billion kronor proposed for elderly care improvements.
- • Plan to hire 4,000 additional workers in the sector.
- • Reinstating high-cost medication protection.
- • Advocating for long-term funding based on inflation.
Key details
The Swedish Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokraterna) has unveiled a bold plan to invest 2 billion kronor in elderly care as part of their 2025 shadow budget. This initiative aims to significantly enhance the workforce in home care and nursing facilities, potentially resulting in the hiring of around 4,000 additional employees nationwide. Mikael Damberg, the party's economic spokesperson, stated that the proposal is designed to improve working conditions for current staff while also addressing the high costs of medication that have increased under the current government.
The funding plan includes reinstating the high-cost protection for medications, which the party criticizes as having been eliminated by the government and the Sweden Democrats. An additional 2 billion kronor is also set aside specifically to reduce medication costs for elderly patients. Furthermore, the Social Democrats intend to establish a permanent framework for training within elderly care, empowering staff to enhance their skills during work hours, with a particular focus on improving language capabilities among employees.
Damberg harshly criticized the government’s current approach to welfare, emphasizing that it has been placed on a ‘starvation diet’ in recent years. He voiced concerns over the growing neglect of elderly care services and the urgent need for a long-term funding strategy that adjusts municipal and regional contributions according to inflation. Malin Ragnegård, chair of the Kommunal trade union, echoed these sentiments, asserting that immediate actions are necessary to revive the elderly care sector, which has suffered from lack of attention and resources.
As discussions around the shadow budget unfold, the Social Democrats are positioning themselves as advocates for elderly welfare, pushing back against the prevailing trends of austerity in social services. The proposed investments signal a significant policy shift aimed at revitalizing Sweden’s elderly care system and improving the lives of both care recipients and workers.