Ombudsperson surprised by quality of social care services at state and municipal centres

Latvia's Ombudsperson, Karina Palkova, said in an interview with Latvian Television's morning programme "Rīta panorāma" that she was surprised by how low the quality of social care services can be at certain state and municipal institutions. She focused specifically on the care provided to elderly residents, indicating that this area shows notable shortcomings.

Concerns over service standards

In the interview, Palkova stressed that the level of care in some institutions falls short of what would be expected from facilities funded by the state or local governments. Her remarks point to an ongoing concern about whether care standards for seniors are being properly upheld across publicly run and publicly funded institutions.

Background

The Ombudsperson's office in Latvia is tasked with monitoring compliance with human rights and good governance principles across state and municipal bodies, including in the social care sector. Palkova's comments on "Rīta panorāma" highlight that the quality of care can vary significantly between institutions, with some failing to meet expected standards.

The interview suggests these shortcomings particularly affect elderly people who depend on state- or municipality-provided care and who often have limited alternatives for choosing a different service provider. No specific institutions or types of violations were named during the interview.

The issue of social care quality in Latvia ties into a broader discussion about the needs of an ageing population and the state's capacity to ensure adequate care for residents who cannot provide it for themselves.