The role of the region in the field of health and social services for seniors and persons with disabilities. Case Study of the Central Bohemian Region
Abstract
Czech health and social services have undergone significant changes related to the reform of public administration. The abolition of district offices occurred in 2003 lead to the transfer of certain social and health services, including some facilities to the competence of municipalities and counties.
Regional municipalities are also legally responsible for social services' planning process and since 2015 financing process. The findings in the article are based on a qualitative methodological approach, which was used as a combination of public policy documents analyses and primary data analysis.
The empirical research was based on focus groups when respondents represented persons caring for the elderly and disabled people as well as providers of health-social services in the Central Bohemian Region. Our findings show that some kinds of health and social services are underdeveloped and are not provided in consistency and succession.
Level of information on health and social services as well as their availability is not very high. From the point of view of services providers local level is perceived as closer to the clients than regional level.
A difference between health and social services, availability and satisfaction with them, is influenced by the obligation of social services planning at the regional level. In the area of health services, missing legal obligation to planning at the municipal level could undermine further development and availability of health services.