Litomyšl today began the construction of a new home for the elderly

Litomyšl - Today, Litomyšl commenced the construction of a new home for the elderly. Upon completion, clients will move in from two current buildings on Zámecká Street. The new facility will have a capacity of 100 beds, 25 more than the existing facility, and will significantly improve the conditions for its residents and employees. Even after its completion, demand is likely to exceed the supply of residential social services, although the state and region support outreach services, said Alena Fiedlerová, director of the Litomyšl Social Assistance Center, which oversees the home.

"Currently, the availability of services depends on the social needs of the applicant. Some will get a bed after a few months, while others may wait a year or longer. People would like a waiting list to be organized, but that's not entirely possible," Fiedlerová stated. According to her, applicants are also looking for places in similar facilities in the area.

The new home will be located on the outskirts of the city on Zdeňka Kopala Street. The three-story building is designed to not appear institutional, rather like a small town with a square, alleys, and nooks where residents can meet as well as retreat for privacy. The interior will feature atriums with natural light, communal spaces, and adequate facilities for staff. The ground floor will include a reception with a café, kitchen, laundry, administration, and a meditation room – a chapel. The garden, which will connect to the park, will offer a safe environment for relaxation and light outdoor activities.

The city has been considering the construction of a new home for the elderly since 2014. The current facility is located in two buildings on Zámecká Street, one of which has a specialized regime for 25 clients with dementia. Fiedlerová would like the ratio of regular clients to those requiring special care in the new building to be 50 to 50.

Most of the necessary funds have been saved by Litomyšl. It has long postponed money from the budget, fines from speed section measurements, or from city forests and waited for a suitable grant title. However, the conditions of the current project do not meet the requirements for such a title; for example, it would need a bit more space for clients, which would consequently reduce the capacity. Last year, the city also abandoned the idea of involving a private investor who would build the home for the elderly and then rent it out to the city. Financially, this would not be advantageous, especially for clients.

The construction company selected in the competition won with the lowest bid of 196 million crowns without VAT. The city could take out a bank loan for part of the costs and sell the two current buildings where the home is located upon completion of the construction to cover the expenses. The home is expected to move into the new building in spring 2028.

In the current facility, clients pay about 17,500 crowns monthly for accommodation and meals in accordance with state regulations, and in the future, the amount should only increase with legitimate costs. "In our thinking, there is no economic aspect to consider, that we would say that since we have a new house, we can crank up the prices. We will proceed in the same manner, but it will be an appropriate environment for the 21st century," said Deputy Mayor Radomil Kašpar (KDU-ČSL) to ČTK.