On July 18, 2018, the Confederal Unions, together with the Pensioners' Unions, signed an important agreement on the regulation of family homes at the regional level, which we attach.
IMPORTANT AGREEMENT: More rules for Family Homes in Emilia Romagna
After an intense discussion, on Wednesday 18 July 2018 an important agreement was reached between the Emilia Romagna Region, CGIL, CISL, UIL and the respective Pensioner Categories on the regional guidelines for local regulations on Family Homes.
Family Homes are privately run structures that do not require special authorizations and can accommodate up to a maximum of 6 self-sufficient or slightly non-self-sufficient guests, i.e. those able to carry out the main activities of daily life.
The development of these structures is a constantly growing phenomenon, in our Region there are about 500 and they concern about 2,700 people welcomed.
This gives rise to the need to better regulate a rapidly growing sector of private services and to establish more accurate control methods, also because unfortunately some Family Homes have hit the headlines due to the abuse and mistreatment that some unscrupulous entrepreneurs have perpetuated against their guests.
“We are satisfied with the agreement reached,” the trade unions state. “With these regional guidelines, some essential principles have been established and rules have been dictated to guarantee, in a homogeneous way in all territorial contexts, quality and safety of the service provided to guests, to strengthen controls, to promote a quality list of Family Homes to protect guests, family members and operators, to valorize good experiences and to avoid phenomena of mistreatment.
We also agreed on the development of an information system that will periodically update the regional register of Family Homes, in order to have an updated and transparent picture to protect the quality of the facilities, but above all of the elderly and disabled guests.”
The trade unions and the Region, considering the relevance of the issue, have committed to continue the discussion with the aim of:
– promote the application of regional guidelines in individual district areas;
– periodically update the monitoring data of Family Homes in the regional territory;
– evaluate the results of the control activities carried out, on behalf of the Municipalities, by the Public Health Departments of the Local Health Authorities;
– develop, with the involvement of GPs, tools for assessing the health conditions of guests when they enter the Family Homes;
– enhance the connection of Family Homes with the network of social and health services
At the proposal of the trade unions, the Region accepted the request to work at a national level to review some aspects of the current legislation, with the aim of providing additional requirements and guarantees for the opening and management of Family Homes.
Furthermore, in agreement with the trade unions, the Region will promote a specific awareness campaign on the dignity and rights of people, starting from the most vulnerable categories: the elderly and disabled.
Bologna July 19, 2018
