Support to the Slovenian authorities with the implementation of an integrated system for long-term care (LTC) in Slovenia

Expert monitoring and evaluation of pilot projects

EXPO_SI

PROJECT TEAM AT THE EUROPEAN CENTRE

Rahel Kahlert, Christian Böhler

PROJECT PARTNERS

BACKGROUND

Over the past decade, Slovenian governments have put the reform of long-term care (LTC) high on the agenda. To match the rising demand with an appropriate supply of high-quality LTC services, an increase in the efficiency and effectiveness of care provision is needed. This can be partly achieved by implementing an integrated care approach in the provision of LTC services. Consequently, the Ministry of Health (MoH) in coordination with the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (MoL) has steered the LTC reform with one main goal - to implement integrated care. Related legislative preparations have been taken, including the creation of an integrated network of formal care providers, informal caregivers, volunteers and other relevant stakeholders providing coordinated LTC services in the communities. This entails the establishment of easily accessible one-stop shops in order to enable users to access LTC services and the integrated network to deliver coordinated services. LTC providers will be responsible for employing care coordinators whose task will be to agree upon integrated care plans with users, to establish integrated care teams and to activate existing resources (informal carers, local infrastructure etc.) in the community.

AIMS

The specific objective of the European Centre’s technical assistance has been to contribute to the implementation of the pilot to support the transition toward an integrated system of long-term care and to the evaluation of its short-term effects (baseline assessment) by taking into account good practices and lessons learned by other countries in addressing similar situations. Several methods and tools for trainings of care coordinators, for monitoring and evaluation as well as for analysing the baseline assessment were developed with the national evaluation team. At the end of this project, a well-prepared team of experts at the Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia is prepared with sufficient skills and know-how for further monitoring and evaluating the pilot project. While the new government is preparing the Long-term Care Act, there are good opportunities that experiences of the pilot projects and their evaluation will serve to further roll-out the integrated care approach in Slovenia.

METHODS

  • Train-the-trainer module with supporting manual and evaluation tools (training design for care coordinators, interview schemes, data base, protocol for baseline assessment)
  • Quantitative and qualitative methods to study the effect of the pilot projects (before-after) and potentials for comparisons
  • Quantitative analysis of baseline assessment
  • Report

ACTIVITIES/MILESTONES

  • Two Workshops with the team of Slovenian experts
  • Manual for monitoring and evaluating the pilot project
  • Training material
  • Evaluation report
  • Final report

The European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research supports the Sustainable Development Goals

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