Welfare Ministry lacks a clear picture of waiting lists for municipal care homes
About 111,000 people in Latvia are over 80, yet care home places are available for only one in ten of them. The Ministry of Welfare, which oversees social policy, does not see the real picture of queues for municipal care homes.
Latvia has roughly 111,000 residents aged over 80, but care home places are enough for only one in ten of them. There is no clear overview of the queues for municipal care homes: the Ministry of Welfare, which is responsible for social assistance and care in the country, does not see the real situation. This is the finding of an analytical report published by LSM on 10 October 2026.
Costs and support
A place in a care home comes with high expenses, which limits options for those who need care. The availability of information and financial support differs greatly between municipalities. In most cases, help is given only to people who can prove they are unable to pay themselves.
Staff pay
At the same time, caregivers at municipal care homes earn on average the minimum wage.
