Keystone-SDA
Older people must be able to stay at home longer. The National adopted on Thursday, by 129 votes to 59, a project from the Federal Council introducing certain benefits in this sense in the supplementary benefits (PC) to the AVS and the AI.
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December 19, 2024 – 12:08
(Keystone-ATS) Around a third of people who live in a nursing home require less than an hour of care per day, noted several speakers. Their entry into EMS could be delayed, or even avoided, if they could live in housing adapted to their needs or benefit from home assistance services.
The modification also concerns people with disabilities. For the committee, Barbara Gysi (PS/SG) recalled the wish of many people to stay at home as long as possible. So that they can choose where they live, support is needed, added co-rapporteur Cyril Aellen (PLR/GE).
Social Insurance Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider underlined the importance of the project, as the aging of the population is taking hold in Switzerland and will increase over the next two decades.
Rémy Wyssmann (UDC/SO), on the other hand, criticized a “social overload”. Vroni Thalmann-Bieri (UDC/LU) denounced a “diversion” of the PC system, which must continue to remain complementary.
Packages
The Federal Council has established as services emergency call systems, household assistance, meal services as well as transport and support services. The left unsuccessfully sought to include other benefits.
The National added that the new services must also take into consideration the psychosocial factor of care and not only physical problems. The UDC and the PLR were against.
The new home assistance services will take the form of a package paid in advance when the need is demonstrated. Ms Gysi welcomed the measure, noting that the people concerned have few means to pre-finance these services. Mr. Wyssmann, on the contrary, warned against abuses.
The People’s Chamber once again followed the government, deciding that these packages should not be less than 11,160 francs per year. The left would have liked to increase this amount to 15,000 or 24,000 francs per year.
Costs borne by the cantons
The supplement for renting adapted accommodation and the reimbursement of adaptation costs will be calculated on the basis of actual costs. MEPs increased the amounts.
The costs of the new services will be entirely covered by the cantons. The government estimates them to be between 340 and 730 million francs in 2030, for savings of 280 million.
The file goes to the Council of States.
