During parliamentary question time on 13 November 2026, Labour and Social Policy Minister Natalia Efremova announced that the government will open integrated health and social residential care services for 43 elderly people in the Montana Region, with construction and equipment financed by €7 million from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The new centres are earmarked for the municipalities of Lom (12 residents), Montana (23 residents) and Chiprovtsi (8 residents), mostly for those who cannot care for themselves and require ongoing medical attention.
Efremova explained that the Montana Region already hosts three municipal care homes that accommodate 229 residents, yet the National Map of Social Services still envisages adding 121 elderly beds of retirement age. To meet that target, the state has bundled regional and national funding, allowing each municipality to launch projects under the EU‑backed “Support for Integrated Urban Development in 40 Urban Municipalities” component of the Regions in Growth Programme.
According to the minister, the NRRP has earmarked €188 million in total for the entire country to upgrade municipally owned care facilities, while the Montana Region alone receives €7 million to build new units and upgrade existing ones to industry‑standard quality. The state also offers related programmes for capability building and physical infrastructure, including full equipment installations that meet the health and social service criteria set in the national roadmap.
“The facilities are expected to accommodate a total of 91 people,” Efremova explained.
“The facilities are expected to accommodate a total of 91 people,”The estimate covers both the new integrated centres for disabled and non‑disabled elderly and the associated guard‑house units needed for health monitoring and emergency response.
Efremova said.
In parallel to the new residential facilities, the state continues to provide assistance services within people’s own homes. To date, 498 residents in the 11 municipalities of the Montana Region receive at‑home support, while an additional 2 683 people with disabilities benefit from the Personal Assistance Act. These figures underscore the ministry’s dual approach: expanding institutional care capacity while enhancing community‑based support for those who can stay independent.
Efremova said all services listed on the National Map of Social Services must be operational by 1 January 2035. The government therefore flagged the new projects as priority, encouraging municipalities to accelerate construction, procurement, and staffing processes in the lead‑up to the deadline. She also highlighted that the region’s existing homes operate under the current quality standards, but will need further upgrades to remain compliant under the new legislation and NRRP oversight.
All in all, the announcement signals a concentrated effort to modernise elder care in Montana, blending housing, health, and social integration. With 43 new beds and 91 expected capacity before 2035, the Minister’s plan aims to support the region’s current and projected senior population, ensuring quality care whether in institutional settings or home‑based arrangements.
