“We can see what a great support the Senior Citizens’ Support Corps is for the elderly, which is why it will operate also in 2023”, announced the Ministry of Family and Social Policy. The programme’s budget is PLN 50 million. Established in 2020, the programme aimed to help the elderly and people in need during the difficult time of the pandemic.

The Senior Citizens Support Corps programme for 2023 is a response to the challenges posed by Poland’s ongoing demographic processes. It is also an element of the state’s social policy to support measures for seniors who are dependent due to their age and health condition.

“The Senior Support Corps was launched in October 2020 and provided important support for older people during the pandemic. This support is still needed, which is why we have decided that in 2023 the Corps will also be operational. We are allocating PLN 50 million for this purpose”, says Minister of Family and Social Policy Marlena Maląg.

The programme consists of two parts. Module I involves volunteers, including youth and civic activists, providing day-to-day assistance to people in need of support, while Module II supports municipalities in the implementation of care services through access to so-called distance care aimed at improving the safety and ability of elderly people to function independently in their place of residence including safety bands for seniors.

The programme will run from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023 and is addressed to all municipalities in Poland, including urban, rural or urban-rural ones. Municipalities have until the end of January 2023 to apply for funds under the programme. Municipalities that join the programme will receive financial support of up to 80 % of the expected total cost of implementing the task.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński