On Tuesday, the Chamber of Deputies voted in favour of a bill amending the law concerning the quality of services for the elderly residing in dedicated residential facilities, garnering 57 votes in support. The three elected members of the Pirate Party abstained from voting.
The revised law expands upon the previous legislation, which had primarily focused on linking the minimum number of staff to the number of residents. The new amendments extend this requirement to also consider the residents’ degree of dependency. Consequently, residents requiring higher levels of care will benefit from increased staffing ratios.
Minister for Family Affairs Max Hahn expressed his support for the adjustment, highlighting its positive impact on the quality of care provided in retirement homes. He emphasised the importance of enabling individuals to receive care in their own homes for as long as possible, a sentiment shared across political parties, according to Hahn.
Furthermore, Minister Hahn noted that older individuals are entering care facilities later in life, often with greater care needs. This shift in demographics necessitated an adjustment to ensure that care facilities can adequately meet the evolving needs of their residents.
As a reminder, the 2023 bill, slated to take effect on 1 March 2024, outlined provisions for 24/7 care by a nurse and support staff member, with an additional supervisory staff member designated for every additional 30 beds. However, the latest amendments suggest a modification to this structure, with the 30-bed threshold now reserved for residents requiring more intensive care and monitoring, particularly during nighttime hours. For those requiring less assistance, the presence of an additional supervisory staff member will only be mandated for facilities accommodating 60 or more residents, as outlined on the Chamber of Deputies website.
However, Pirate Party MP Marc Goergen expressed reservations regarding these adjustments, characterising them as a regression from previously established standards. “You said before the elections, (...): we put the ratio at 30 beds. Now you’re doubling it and saying, ‘Let’s say 60 beds with the same staff if their level of care needs is between 1 and 5'. We call that regression. In a law that you pushed through before the summer holidays (...),” Goergen remarked.
Criticism from Pirate Party MPs centred on the perceived lack of consultation with frontline workers during the formulation of the amendments. Former Minister for Family Affairs, Corinne Cahen, rebutted these claims, asserting that the adjustment was prompted by practical challenges in recruitment rather than deficiencies in the original legislation.
MP Tom Weidig from the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (adr) echoed concerns regarding staff shortages, identifying it as the primary issue. Meanwhile, MP Marc Baum of the Left Party (déi Lénk) aligned with Goergen’s critique, stating that the initial law had been rushed through prior to elections without adequate consideration for staffing constraints. According to Baum, “the staff shortage didn’t come out of the blue"; it should have been anticipated.
MP Claire Delcourt of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) proposed a motion calling for the formulation of a strategy to address the shortage of care staff and for a comprehensive assessment of elderly care services after three years. However, the motion was rejected by a vote of 35 against.
Minister Hahn addressed concerns raised by Delcourt, highlighting existing provisions for the development and promotion of healthcare professions.
The amended law on the quality of services for the elderly is scheduled to come into full effect on 1 March. The changes endorsed on Tuesday will be implemented simultaneously with the rest of the law.
