Filenews 9 December 2025 - by Marilena Panayi
Mobile health units, mobile digital support units, integrated care, energy support for homes and a targeted increase in allowances and other benefits to older people living in semi-mountainous and mountainous areas, are included in the integrated care package prepared by the Observatory for the Third Age and already submitted to the Presidential, six Ministers and the Commissioner for the Development of Mountainous Areas.
"At this point, we must run so that our elderly are not left helpless. We have already delayed and despite the government's policies in this direction, decisions should be taken immediately that will strengthen them, in order to end the suffering, but also to stop the dangers in which these people find themselves", the executive president of the Observatory, Dimos Antoniou, told "F".
The proposal, he said, "includes what needs to be done without further delay and our suggestions emerged from the real data, the real needs that we, as an Observatory, but also other competent bodies, such as the Cyprus Federation of Patients' Associations and the Cyprus Confederation of Disabled Organizations, live every day. In other words, these are not thoughts that we recorded, because we thought it would be good to cover some things, but about needs that are real and as institutions we are called upon to cover every day by intervening, asking for help from ministries, state services, etc."
Therefore, "we expect that the government will understand the situation and the necessary political decisions will finally be taken to do even more. We are open to dialogue and if the Local Government, the communities have their "ears open", then we may achieve many and right things. I want to emphasize that the proposals we are submitting are based on policies and good practices of other European Union member states and highlight the social role of the state and the welfare state."
Creation of a "Mountain Home Care Package"
"Our goal must be for our elderly to stay in their homes, in their own environment safely, with dignity with the right care and support. Our elderly and elderly face enormous difficulty in serving their needs, whether they concern receiving health, nursing and medical services, or simply moving around or even securing the necessities for their home. Shopping, for example, which we consider an easy job, for the elderly living in remote areas is often a problem and children and the extended family are recruited to serve them. Our proposal, among other things, utilizes and strengthens the existing plans."
Provides:
>> Enhanced compensation for home caregivers and health professionals serving mountainous and semi-mountainous communities, to cover time and travel expenses.
>> Priority in the approval of applications for home care for elderly people living in such areas.
>> Funding of community structures (community councils, SKEs, etc.) for the creation of local networks of caregivers, which will undertake:
A. Help with shopping and daily needs.
B. Reminder/supervision of medication intake.
C. Escort to medical appointments.
D. Basic socialization and support.
Mobile units
"To address inequalities in access to health services and digital services, we have recommended:
Strengthening or creating mobile health units that visit on a regular basis the semi-mountainous and mountainous communities with a high concentration of the elderly, providing: Basic medical monitoring, nursing services and counselling for chronic diseases.
The mobile units should also include the role of a "digital service desk" for assistance in submitting electronic applications (GMI, allowances, certificates), for assistance in making medical appointments and for support in the use of basic digital services of the State.
Cooperation with the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation & Digital Policy for: Strengthening broadband connectivity in mountain communities and creating "digital corners" (e.g. in community centers or multipurpose centers), where the elderly will be able to be served with the help of trained staff.
Proposal for a targeted policy on benefits
In addition, the proposal also includes a targeted increase, the increase or concession of allowances in mountainous/semi-mountainous areas for all people aged 65 and over.
Specifically, it is proposed:
To introduce a special age increase in the existing support allowances for residents of mountainous and remote areas, for permanent residents aged 65 and over. The increase should vary depending on:
>> The altitude of the community.
>> The distance from the nearest hospital or Health Center, in order to take into account the additional cost of travel and access to services.
>> The inclusion of beneficiaries should be done automatically, by cross-checking data, without the need for a new, complex application each time.
>> Provide for a special winter surcharge (heating allowance) for the months of November to March.
It is also proposed to increase the geographical increase of the GMI and the allowance for low-income pensioners by introducing a geographical increase coefficient (e.g. a percentage of the basic amount) for: Beneficiaries of the GMI who are 65+ and beneficiaries of the low-income pensioner's allowance, who are permanent residents of semi-mountainous or mountainous communities.
"The coefficient must be documented with objective criteria (altitude, distance from urban centers, average temperature, etc.). The renewal of the right (where required) should be done with as little bureaucracy as possible, using existing registers and electronic services, avoiding repetitive, difficult procedures for the elderly."
Also, a special housing and energy plan is proposed for residences:
>> Targeting households with a primary beneficiary aged 65 or over who resides permanently in a semi-mountainous or mountainous community.
>> A high subsidy rate (especially for low-income pensioners) for the energy upgrade of homes (thermal insulation, frames, efficient heating systems, solar systems). Accessibility interventions (ramps, bathrooms suitable for people with reduced mobility, handles, non-slip floors, etc.).
>> Possibility for an authorized representative (family member or community) to submit the application, so as not to discourage the elderly from the process.
>> Priority in the evaluation of applications concerning houses in communities with adverse climatic conditions in winter.
For all these proposals, said the executive president of the Observatory of the Third Age, "we are ready to give further suggestions for their implementation in practice. Many more could be done or all this could be implemented more easily and at a lower cost, if there is proper cooperation with the communities and certainly if there is a political decision that leads to cooperation between all the competent ministries and Services. One of the biggest obstacles we find, to date, in front of us is the lack of understanding between the ministries. As can be seen from our proposals, some issues fall within the competence of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, some in the Ministry of Health, others in the Ministry of Energy. There has to be real will and political will and people who really recognize the need to do what needs to be done and, I will emphasize again, has been applied in other EU member states for many years."
