Integrating Services for Older People in Lithuania
Lithuania’s population is ageing rapidly. The share of the population aged 65 years
and over is expected to grow from 20% in 2019 to 32% in 2050 – faster than the EU
average. A growing share of people who need help with their daily activities – so
called long-term care. The governance of long-term care is fragmented between the
Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Security and Labour and the municipalities.
This results in a lack of integration of services between social workers and nurses
and inequalities in access as eligibility conditions differ. Older people still have
unmet needs and face substantial costs. Lithuania has one of the lowest levels of
long-term care workers in the EU with only 1 worker per 100 people aged 65 or above
compared to the EU average of 4 workers per 100 in 2019. This report suggests avenues
to adapt funding streams, improve the coordination and access to long-term care services
and strengthen the workforce in the sector.
Published on November 25, 2022