Waiting lists have always been a headache for Carles Campuzano. They already were when he presided over Dincat, which brings together 300 social entities and safeguards the rights of more than 75,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Catalonia, as well as their families. And they continue to be so now, after he returned to politics as head of the Department of Social Rights.
“We have signed him,” said President Pere Aragonès at a recent gala at the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya to celebrate the 50 years of existence of Dincat, which is now chaired by José Carlos Eiriz. Destinations change, responsibilities increase, but the problems remain: waiting lists. Minister Campuzano yesterday announced measures so that people with dependency can access residential places much sooner.
The waiting list is years long, so there is no choice but to resort to arranged or private residences that not everyone can afford. For these people there is aid such as linked economic benefits (PEV), “whose economic amounts have not been updated for more than eleven years”, as the Government itself admits. Until now, the “maximum” amount that beneficiaries of a PEV received was 747 euros per month.
The Generalitat will allocate 178.5 million euros to increase the number of beneficiaries, reduce waiting lists and increase aid. Not all the money will go to linked financial benefits. Access for people with disabilities to day centers will also be facilitated so that they receive specialized care and have proper outpatient care, “thus delaying as much as possible their institutionalization,” that is, leaving their home and entering a hospital. center.
With the increases approved by the Executive Council, up to 1,239 euros can be received, that is, 492 euros more. This more than necessary update will make it possible to cover “about 62% of the cost of a residential place in an accredited center, instead of the 37.25% that was assumed until now.” The measures are provided for in an extraordinary decree law that the Parliament should approve in November, according to the minister.
Who will benefit? The Government of the Generalitat hopes to facilitate access to residences “for the entire population.” Or “to all citizens,” as was said at another time during the appearance, as reflected in a press release. But it is evident that the aid will especially affect “those people with low incomes and who with the old benefits did not have enough for a place in a nursing home.”
Public centers cannot absorb all the demand and those interested could not afford the co-payment for other types of residences until now, if the reference price is around 2,002 euros per month, an amount that would not include extras and would be around the low price range, as confirmed by professionals in the sector. Despite everything, the Social Rights department hopes to reduce waiting lists.
A total of 11,377 people received a PEV in Catalonia, according to the latest count, last September. If Carles Campuzano’s forecasts are confirmed, next year there could be 43% more, that is, about 16,300 beneficiaries (a reference entity in social assistance and aid in Barcelona, ??the field hospital of the church of Santa Anna, prefers to talk about users to emphasize that it is not charity, but justice).
Some 12,500 people without a place are on the waiting list. The deadlines could be shortened and allow the entry of 5,000 candidates, who will now have to cover 62% of the cost. The decree law, once approved, will also eliminate the co-payment in day centers for people with intellectual or physical disabilities, an old demand of families, as the former president of Dincat and current councilor Carles Campuzano knows well.