In brief
Bulgarian Minister Natalia Efremova announced that the National Recovery and Resilience Plan will fund integrated health and social care facilities for 43 elderly people in the Montana Region, delivering services by 1 January 2035. Existing homes in the area currently serve 229 residents, and the plan adds a total of 91 beds across three municipalities while expanding home‑based assistance for hundreds more.
During parliamentary question time on 13 January 2026, Bulgarian Minister of Labour and Social Policy Natalia Efremova announced plans to establish integrated health and social residential care services for 43 elderly residents in the Montana Region, a province in north‑western Bulgaria. The initiative is part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and is scheduled to be fully operational by 1 January 2035.
The new facilities will be located in the municipalities of Lom, Montana and Chiprovtsi. Lom will accommodate 12 residents, Montana will house 23 and Chiprovtsi will provide care for eight, according to the minister’s statement at the session.
Under the NRRP, the national budget has earmarked €7 million for the Montana Region alone, while the total allocation for the whole country is €188 million. The funds will cover construction, equipment and the transition of existing municipal homes to meet updated quality standards.
At present, the region operates three medical and social care homes that serve 229 residents. The National Map of Social Services calls for provision of additional residential facilities for 121 elderly people who are 60 years of age or older. The minister clarified that the combined capacity of the planned projects will exceed this number by adding 91 beds, bringing the total projected sitting capacity to 97 elderly residents.
In addition to the new homes, the state will continue to support elderly citizens in their own homes. Assistance services currently aid 498 people across all 11 municipalities in the Montana Region, while an additional 2,683 residents with disabilities receive help under the Personal Assistance Act.
Both Montana and Chiprovtsi have submitted their project proposals under a programme titled “Support for Integrated Urban Development in 40 Urban Municipalities,” the second component of the Regions in Growth Programme. These submissions include turnkey plans for the construction of fully equipped residential care facilities and the integration of health and social services for elderly users.
All services listed on the National Map of Social Services must be established by 1 January 2035, the minister emphasized. The deadline reflects the urgency of securing comprehensive care for the ageing population in the region and aligns with the EU’s long‑term commitment to social cohesion.
Minister Natalia Efremova said:
"The services will be provided in the municipalities of Lom, for 12 people, Montana, for 23 people, and Chiprovtsi, for eight people," during parliamentary question time.
The announcement underscores the government’s pledge to improve institutional care for vulnerable seniors, demonstrating the government's accountability to the local communities and the broader public. It also highlights the role of the NRRP as a critical financial instrument for social infrastructure, thereby linking national economic recovery with long‑term public welfare. The policy touches the lives of 43 elderly residents directly, with implications for families, local health practitioners and municipal administrations. Stakeholders across the region will need to collaborate to meet construction timelines, quality benchmarks and the statutory 2035 deadline, ensuring that public accountability remains central to the project’s governance.
