Government Unifies Senior Care Standards with Seven-Day Support

The Polish government has introduced a draft regulation to standardize home care services for over 111,000 seniors and disabled individuals nationwide, with the new rules scheduled to take effect on August 31, 2026.

Standardizing Care Across All Municipalities

A new draft regulation aims to eliminate regional disparities in elderly care by establishing uniform standards for home-based support. The mandate covers 2,500 municipalities, ensuring that every citizen receives a comparable level of service regardless of their location.

The reform, which serves as a component of the National Recovery Plan, focuses on increasing transparency and better tailoring services to the needs of those whose age, health, or disability limits their independence.

Expanded Scope and Operational Schedule

The regulations define a specific catalog of services, ranging from daily living assistance and household management to basic nursing and social support. To ensure these services remain effective, the plan mandates a minimum scope of tasks for each type of care.

Support will be available seven days a week between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. While services are generally intended for weekdays, the draft allows for care on holidays in justified cases to accommodate individual needs.

Safety Protocols and Quality Monitoring

The policy introduces provisions for high-intensity tasks, such as transferring patients from beds to wheelchairs, by allowing two caregivers to provide assistance simultaneously while both receiving full compensation.

Quality control will be bolstered through a centralized system of internal audits, surveys, and anonymous feedback mechanisms. These measures are designed to ensure providers maintain the newly established standards consistently.