A disturbing trend is emerging in South-Eastern Moravia, were the number of unregistered social service facilities is on the rise, raising serious concerns about the well-being of vulnerable seniors. Regional officials, the ombudsman’s office, and doctors have sounded the alarm, highlighting the substandard care provided in these unregulated establishments.
According to reports, these facilities, often referred to as “small houses,” are staffed primarily by untrained individuals, lack proper nutrition and medical attention for thier infirm clients, and operate outside the legal framework. While the region lacks the authority to shut them down, the consequences for the elderly residents are dire.
Czech Television obtained shocking photographs from various unregistered facilities, revealing the devastating impact of inadequate care.”They arrive dehydrated, convulsed with untreated pressure ulcers. Either the old ones have deteriorated or they have new ones,” stated Ľuboš Hasara, head of the internal department at Kyjov Hospital, describing the condition of seniors who end up in their care after residing in these facilities.
The lack of proper medical documentation further compounds the problem. “If the nursing care does not meet the proper standards,there is a risk of a sharp deterioration in the state of health.And these are precisely the patients who come here in large numbers,” warned Jiří vyhnal, director of Kyjov Hospital.
Deputy ombudsman Vít Alexander Schorm highlighted another alarming issue: “Another problem is the handling of medicines.Medicines are usually freely available to the staff, they are not locked away, as they should be.”
Unregistered and Unaccountable
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Czech Television journalists,posing as potential clients,visited several of these unregistered facilities,including the Association of Nice Moments in Stavěšice. Janka Gabčová, the association’s president, declined to be interviewed on camera. When questioned about the facility’s unregistered status, Gabčová suggested that the building would likely fail to meet hygiene standards.
This investigation sheds light on a deeply troubling situation where vulnerable seniors are being exploited and neglected in unregulated facilities. The lack of oversight and accountability puts their health and well-being at serious risk, demanding urgent action from authorities to protect this vulnerable population.
Across the Czech Republic, a growing number of unregistered care facilities are raising concerns about the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals. These facilities, frequently enough operating as associations within family homes, bypass standard regulations, leaving residents potentially exposed to substandard care.
“A facility that pretends it doesn’t need registration says it doesn’t even have to comply with any standards – hygienic, fire, even social or health care standards,” stated Petr Schorm, a representative from the Czech Television investigative program, ”168 Hours.”
These unregistered facilities typically house 15 to 20 individuals, with “social care assistants” providing support. Residents frequently enough pay ample fees, ranging from 15,000 to 18,000 Czech koruna per month, covering accommodation, food, and assistance. in addition,they receive a state-funded care allowance based on their level of dependency.
Legal Gray Area and Enforcement Challenges
Alena Novotná, head of the concept and planning department at the South Moravian Region’s Department of Social Affairs, emphasized the legal ambiguity surrounding these facilities. “The moment you accumulate the number of fifteen or twenty people in one place of care provision and the assistants arrive there, it really has the characteristics of social service management,” she explained. “According to the authorities and several court decisions, this is not legal if they are not registered.”
Despite legal challenges, some unregistered facilities continue to operate. Andrea Kobingerová, who previously ran several associations in Hodonín and Uherskohradiště, was convicted of unauthorized business practices. Though, the houses connected to her remain functional. While she claims to be no longer officially in charge, she still answers the business phone and asserts that the facilities will now comply with the law. “We’re registering,yes,” she stated,adding that they have hired someone to handle the registration process.
Regional officials in South Moravia have inspected ten such facilities, but their authority is limited to initiating administrative proceedings or issuing fines, which can be paid in installments. In certain specific cases, they refer the matter to the police.
Calls for Stronger Oversight and Collaboration
Novotná highlighted the urgent need for stronger oversight and collaboration. “We do not have the authority to close such a facility in any way, to somehow take over those clients and put them in a registered social service. For us, it’s really an urgent request to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs,” she stressed.
Marian Jurečka, minister of Labor and Social Affairs, pledged to address the issue by deploying dedicated inspectors and fostering closer cooperation with regional and trade authorities. “At the same time, we are also looking for other ways – because those providers are still looking for various loopholes in the laws – in order to emphasize or specify where we pay the care allowance,” he assured.
The estimated number of unregistered care beds in the South Moravian Region alone exceeds 300. This surge in unregistered facilities is driven by a critical shortage of places in official homes for the elderly and insufficient capacity in field services.
## World Today News Exclusive interview:
**the shadow Care Crisis: Unmasking Unregistered Social Service Facilities in South-Eastern Moravia**
**Today, we delve into a disturbing trend emerging in South-Eastern Moravia:** a rise in unregistered social service facilities raising grave concerns for the well-being of vulnerable seniors. joining us today is **dr. Petr Schorm**, a representative from Czech Television’s investigative program, “168 Hours.” Dr. Schorm, thank you for sharing your insights on this critical issue.
**World Today News:** Dr. Schorm, your investigation has unveiled a deeply troubling reality. Can you elaborate on the scope of this problem and the potential dangers these unregistered facilities pose to seniors?
**dr.Schorm:** We’re witnessing a worrying surge in these unregistered facilities disguised as “small houses” across South-Eastern moravia. What’s alarming is their blatant disregard for regulations. They often operate without proper licenses, staffed by untrained individuals, and lacking essential resources. This lack of oversight translates into substandard care, leaving seniors incredibly vulnerable.
**World Today News:**
Your report revealed shocking images of seniors found dehydrated and suffering from untreated medical conditions after residing in these facilities. Can you elaborate on the specific health risks these establishments pose?
**Dr. Schorm:** Absolutely. seniors arriving at hospitals from these facilities are often in critical condition. We’ve witnessed cases of severe dehydration, untreated pressure ulcers, and malnutrition. Many also arrive with untreated medical conditions that have been neglected.
**World Today News:** The lack of proper medical documentation appears to be another major concern. How does this impact the ability to provide adequate care to residents once they are transferred to hospitals?
**Dr. Schorm:** It creates a significant challenge. Without proper documentation, healthcare professionals are working blind. They have limited information about the residents’ medical history, medications, and allergies, hindering their ability to provide timely and effective treatment.
**World Today News:**
These facilities often operate under the radar, clothed in ambiguity.
What are the common tactics they employ to avoid detection and perpetuate their operations?
**Dr. Schorm:** They frequently enough masquerade as informal associations, operating within private residences. This allows them to bypass the scrutiny and licensing requirements imposed on official care facilities.
**World Today News:** What measures, if any, are authorities taking to address this growing crisis and ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable seniors?
**Dr. Schorm:** While regional authorities acknowledge the issue, they face limitations in their power to shut down these unregistered facilities.Dialog and collaboration between local authorities, healthcare providers, and advocacy groups are crucial to finding a solution.
**World Today News:** What steps can concerned individuals take to identify potentially risky unregistered facilities and protect their loved ones from falling prey to these exploitation schemes?
**World Today News:** Dr. Schorm,your work has shed a light on a critical issue affecting a vulnerable segment of our population.Thank you for your courage in bringing this to light and for sharing your expertise with us today.
**[Conclude with information on relevant organizations and resources for seniors and their families in the Czech Republic. Encourage viewers to share the story and demand action.]**
