3. 10. 2023
This means that E-Care will continue to be available free of charge for at least 5,500 users from 1 October this year and until 30 June 2025, when the right for e-care services from the Long-Term Care and Long-Term Care Insurance Act comes into force.
The new Remote E-Care project is also important because the project of the Ministry of Health that ensured E-Care for eligible users from April 2022 until 30 September 2023 was fully financed by the European Union from the European Social Fund had concluded. ZDUS and Telekom Slovenije are calling on all those who were using E-Care services as part of this project to sign and send the documentation they received in order to ensure continued uninterrupted use of E-Care services.
“Seniors require support while living independently at home, and E-Care is a highly effective solution, which is why we have been emphasising throughout that it is essential it remains free of charge and available to as many seniors as possible. As part of our ‘Seniors for seniors’ programme we have been in touch through our volunteers with seniors who have been put at ease and whose safety in independent living at home had been greatly improved with E-Care, but who could not otherwise have afforded it. Therefore, the continuation of the financing for the E-Care project is exceptional and we are glad that the Ministry of Solidarity-Based Future has made it possible. Continued financing inspires great optimism and faith in the government’s decisions regarding seniors, who are among the most vulnerable groups, as this shows that in spite of the recent catastrophic natural disaster, which will put a significant burden on the budget, the society still has social empathy. All users of E-Care will be visited by our volunteers to assist them with filling out the paperwork,“ emphasised Zdenka Jan, the vice-president of ZDUS.
“Nationally ensured E-Care for all those who need it is essential for our ageing society, as it significantly improves the safety of living in the home environment for seniors, people with disabilities and chronic patients, and lowers the burden on the healthcare and social care services. Continued financing of E-Care ensures users can continue to live at home safely and independently until the Long-Term Care and Long-Term Care Insurance Act comes into force. This is especially important for those seniors who live alone for the most part of the day. E-Care provides them with immediate help when they need it,” emphasises Peter Pustatičnik, the head of E-Care and E-Health at Telekom Slovenije.
Experience with E-Care: More than 24,000 calls
E-oskrba (E-Care) is a social security service that makes it possible for seniors, people with disabilities and chronic patients to live a more independent and safe life in their home environment, as it provides 24-hour connection with an assistance centre or healthcare staff and support assistance, if a user needs help. A survey was conducted as part of the current project “E-Care at Home” on user satisfaction and the effects of using E-Care. The results have shown that users with E-Care have a greater sense of safety and a higher quality of life in their home environment, and approximately 10% of users say that without the E-Care service they would have to move to a nursing home or would require another type of assistance.
Between April 2022 and August 2023 the E-Care assistance centre has received more than 24,000 calls as part of this project, and has conducted 1900 interventions with the help of informal care-givers (i.e. relatives, neighbours, etc.), and more than 300 interventions through provided emergency medical assistance. Nearly 300 users needed help because of falling in their home environment, and almost 170 needed help because their medical condition exacerbated. E-Care has significantly reduced the time needed to wait for help, preventing numerous major medical complications and hospitalisations, and it also prevents unnecessary deaths.
Who is entitled conducting E-Care free of charge?
Those who were included in the “E-Care at Home” project will be continue using the service free of charge. Current users will receive all the required information and documentation by mail, and users will also receive visits from volunteers of pensioners’ organisations to help them fill out the forms.
The E-Care service is available free of charge to those who are of age and live at home, are not already included in any type of institutional care, and meet at least one of the following conditions:
• they have been recognised as a person with disabilities in accordance with the regulations for disability and pension insurance;
• they receive the assistance and attendance allowance in accordance with the regulations for disability and pension insurance;
• their neurological or neuromuscular conditions make them a threat for falling, or their cognitive impairment from dementia
exposes them to various undesirable events in their environment;
• they suffer from the effects of illness, infirmity of old age, injuries, disability, loss of intellectual capacity, limited ability for self-
reliance and live alone for most of the day;
• are above 65 and live alone for the most part of the day.
Detailed information about joining the project of the Ministry of a Solidarity-Based Future are available from Telekom Slovenije and ZDUS at :
• Slovenian Federation of Pensioners' Organisations, by calling them at 01 620 54 82 (every business day between 9 and 12) or by
writing to them by e-mail to e-oskrba@zdus-zveza.si or by visiting their local pensioners’ organisation;
• Telekom Slovenije, by calling the toll-free number 080 12 13 (every business day between 8 and 16) or by writing to them by e-mail
to eoskrba@telekom.si, or by visiting a Telekom Slovenije Sales Centre.