The Minister of Labor and Social Policy Borislav Gutsanov announced an ambitious plan to modernize nursing homes in Bulgaria during his visit to Varna for the city's Day celebrations. According to the minister, by the end of June 2026, renovations of all 81 nursing homes currently undergoing renewal will be completed.
Gutsanov emphasized that this is the most extensive renovation program for such institutions since 1990. Funding for these projects is secured through Bulgaria's Recovery and Resilience Plan, which demonstrates the strategic importance of this initiative for improving the living conditions of the elderly in the country.
The minister also drew attention to successes in combating illegal elderly care institutions. So far, 12 such illegal homes have been closed, with over 400 people removed from them and redirected to legal and better-equipped facilities.
Parallel to the renovations of existing homes, 254 new social services are being established in Bulgaria, primarily aimed at people with specific needs. As an example of progress in this area, Gutsanov pointed out that in Shumen alone, on the day of his statement, two groundbreaking ceremonies would take place - for a nursing home and another new social service.
In addition to these initiatives, the ministry is conducting a large-scale inspection of 116 buildings across the country, including former schools, kindergartens, and health facilities. The aim is to determine which of them can be converted into nursing homes. These properties were proposed by the mayors of the respective municipalities, showing good cooperation between central and local authorities on this important social issue.
Gutsanov expressed optimism that about ten new elderly care institutions would be created as a result of this inspection. He described it as "absolutely realistic" for these new homes to be ready by the middle of next year, which would significantly contribute to improving the country's capacity to care for the elderly population.
The minister also hinted at upcoming important revelations related to the use of public funds. He announced that in September, the ministry will present new findings on two topics, whose effect on society is expected to be no less than the uncovering of illegal homes. Although he refused to disclose more details, Gutsanov suggested that the topic is related to inefficient spending of funds, which indicates potential revelations of financial irregularities in the social sector.
These ambitious plans and ongoing initiatives show a serious commitment from the Bulgarian government to improve elderly care and optimize social services in the country. The coming months will be critical for the realization of these projects and for assessing their impact on the quality of life of vulnerable groups in Bulgarian society.