Deinstitutionalisation in care systems at local and regional level

NAT-VI/024
Adopted

Deinstitutionalisation in care systems at local and regional level

Xamuel GONZALEZ WESTLING
Xamuel GONZALEZ WESTLING
Member Sweden
Member of Hofors Municipal Council
 xamuel.gonzalez.westling@hofors.se
 +46 76 0499404
 SV, ES, EN
Commissions: ECON-VII , NAT-VII
 Adoption: 30/11/2017
 Theme: Agriculture, Maritime and Consumer policies
Commission: Commission for Natural Resources (NAT-VI)
This opinion's overarching objective has been to raise awareness about the unfinished transition to community care and to highlight the complexity of transformation of care models. The sub-objectives include: combating stigma and social exclusion supporting alternatives to large institutions promoting European Expert Group guidelines on transition advocating against the excessive use of plenary guardianship supporting staff in transition. Finally, the opinion's goal was also to contribute to the work of the Estonian Presidency of the EU and their high level conference on DI (held in Tallinn in October 2017) and to contribute to the Council conclusions on "Enhancing Community-Based Support and Care for Independent Living” (adopted in December 2017). https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-15563-2017-INIT/en/pdf
The work of the CoR has been wholeheartedly welcome by the civil society active in the field. The Rapporteur was invited to the high level conference, organised by the Estonian Presidency of the EU, and held a speech advocating for a swift transition to community-base care and more resources and attention, politically and financially, to complete the transformation.
THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS - Reiterates that deinstitutionalisation is more than closing down large institutions and creating alternative forms of care. It also means combating prejudice, questioning stereotypes and changing mindsets; - Recommends that all Members States use the "Common European Guidelines on the Transition from Institutional to Community-based Care" developed by the European Expert Group launched by the former EU Commissioner - Considers that developing a more community-based system of care should be a high priority for all EU MS and that deinstitutionalisation should uphold the rights and guarantee the best possible outcomes for those affected; - Emphasises that moving away from institutional care entails a paradigm shift for staff and calls for (re)training to gain new skills and knowledge regarding human rights; - Calls on the Member States to work towards reducing the need for plenary guardianships and to guarantee assistance, wellbeing, inclusion and as much autonomy as possible for people with disabilities and mental health problems, who may not be in a position to assume full responsibility for themselves; - Calls on the Member States to help set up and to work with user organisations
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