Large savings requirements and a budget deficit of SEK 8.5 million in the Social Services in Åsele mean that a majority in the City Council has now decided to reduce the number of places at the Duvan accommodation in Fredrika.
The decision was made during an extraordinary meeting after the issue was postponed in December.
- All other municipalities in Sweden manage with smaller places, then it is logical that we should do the same here.
There are municipalities that are at the same level (older) as us and have fewer special places and can manage their budget, said the chairman of the City Council, Linnea Lindberg (ÅP), during the meeting.
She continues:
- We do not do that, we have been in deficit for many years and we will continue to do so even if we do not make this decision.
Opposition: "Older people should be able to live independently"
However, Deputy Chairman of the City Council, Sylvia Samuelsson (C), is critical of the savings proposal.
- If we are to discuss elderly care, we must also include what other forms of housing other municipalities offer, the Social Services Act says that the elderly should be able to live independently in safe conditions, she said during the meeting.
She believes that it is not necessarily fair to compare oneself with other municipalities as they may offer their citizens other types of housing.
- The conflict is very clear, as an elderly person in Åsele municipality, I must be able to have freedom of choice.
Making this big cut in elderly care without being able to offer alternatives is serious, Sylvia Samuelsson (C) continued later during the meeting.