2024-04-172023/24:SoU20 · p.3SoUHealth & social services
Statement on elderly care's needs and development
Government reporting on elder care developments after the pandemic
What's at stake: The pandemic exposed shortcomings in elder care, and a consolidated report on developments since then determines how well parliament and the public can track whether the identified problems are actually being addressed.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the government should submit a special written communication to parliament on how elder care has developed since the pandemic and what needs have been identified, or whether existing follow-up and ongoing processing is sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee opposes the call for a new communication, pointing out that the Corona Commission's report is being processed within the Government Offices, that several measures have already been taken — including SEK 300 million annually from 2024 to strengthen municipal healthcare and social-services preparedness — and that the National Board of Health and Welfare issues an annual status report on the condition and development of elder care.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 3 (S, V, C, MP)
The reservation holds that the government has shown considerable passivity since almost none of the Corona Commission's proposals have led to action, leaving elder care just as exposed as before the pandemic, and calls for the government to submit a written communication to parliament on elder care's development after the pandemic and account for identified needs.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 3 by S, V, C, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have gone the other way
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: MModeraterna
Ja 156–151Nej 97–210
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/21/0/3 | match | confidence: high | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/92/0/14 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/16/0/2 | match | confidence: low | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | match | confidence: low | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 15/0/0/1 | differs | confidence: low | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 59/0/0/9 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
| SD | No | Yes 64/0/0/8 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motion 2023/24:227 by Karin Rågsjö et al. (V) proposal 6.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2023/24:227 av Karin Rågsjö m.fl. (V) yrkande 6.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said no to approximately 70 proposals in motions on elderly care from the general motion period of 2023. The motions deal with, among other things, an elderly care law, strengthened medical expertise in municipalities, staffing and conditions in elderly care. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to ongoing work.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to propose new elderly care legislation during the mandate period. (S, V, C, MP) — Reservation 3
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The election manifesto makes the tragedy of elderly care during the pandemic a central accusation: resources were withdrawn, operations were sold out, and the elderly were not protected despite the promises of care companies.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto makes the tragedy of elderly care during the pandemic a central accusation: resources were withdrawn, operations were sold out, and the elderly were not protected despite the promises of care companies. The plan demands that the entire healthcare sector is strengthened to handle crises and that elderly care receives more resources. To demand an account of elderly care's development after the pandemic and the remaining needs therefore lies in the direction of the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Valplattformen gör äldreomsorgens pandemitragedi till en central anklagelse: resurser drogs undan, verksamheter såldes ut och äldre skyddades inte trots vårdföretagens löften. Planen kräver att hela vårdsektorn rustas upp för att klara kriser och att äldreomsorgen får mer resurser. Att kräva en redovisning av äldreomsorgens utveckling efter pandemin och de behov som kvarstår ligger därför i planens linje.
- the pandemic's betrayal of the elderlydecisive»Konsekvenserna av många år av nedskärningar och privatiseringar syntes i att äldre inte skyddades från smittan trots löften från vårdföretagen och trots att personalen gjorde sitt bästa med knappa resurser.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The consequences of many years of cuts and privatizations were seen in that the elderly were not protected from infection despite promises from care companies and despite staff doing their best with limited resources.”
- strengthened healthcare and crisis preparedness»Sverige behöver rusta upp hela vårdsektorn för att kunna klara de mer normala skiftningarna i vårdbehov men också för att kunna växla upp kapaciteten i kristider.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden needs to strengthen the entire healthcare sector to be able to handle more normal shifts in care needs but also to be able to scale up capacity in times of crisis.”
- responsibility for the state of elderly care»Tragedin i äldreomsorgen beror på att resurser har dragits undan och verksamheter sålts ut så att skattepengar som skulle gått till de äldre istället blivit miljardvinster för lägstbjudande företag.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The tragedy in elderly care is because resources have been withdrawn and operations have been sold out so that tax money that should have gone to the elderly instead became billion-crown profits for the lowest bidder companies.”
- more resources to elderly care»Därför vill Vänsterpartiet satsa mer resurser på hälso- och sjukvården och äldreomsorgen, samt satsa på personalen så att vi samtidigt får bort personalbristen och stärker personalens villkor och arbetsmiljö.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore the Left Party wants to invest more resources in healthcare and elderly care, and invest in staff so that at the same time we remove staff shortages and strengthen staff conditions and working environment.”
The election manifesto makes elderly care its own commitment: aging should be safe in Sweden, a new elderly care law shall ensure equal care throughout the country, and emergency preparedness in healthcare shall be strengthened after the pandemic.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto makes elderly care its own commitment: aging should be safe in Sweden, a new elderly care law shall ensure equal care throughout the country, and emergency preparedness in healthcare shall be strengthened after the pandemic. The counter-proposal's demand for a report on the development of elderly care and remaining needs is in line with this and with the programme's requirement for transparency and openness in administration. The plan therefore supports the demand.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet gör äldreomsorgen till ett eget åtagande: det ska vara tryggt att åldras i Sverige, en ny äldreomsorgslag ska säkra lika bra omsorg i hela landet, och krisberedskapen inom sjukvården ska rustas upp efter pandemin. Motförslagets krav på en redovisning av äldreomsorgens utveckling och kvarstående behov ligger i linje med detta och med programmets krav på offentlighet och insyn i förvaltningen. Planen stöder därför kravet.
- new elderly care lawdecisive»Vi vill ha en ny äldreomsorgslag som säkerställer att alla får en lika bra omsorg i hela landet och tillgång till sjuksköterskor dygnet runt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want a new elderly care law that ensures everyone receives equal care throughout the country and access to nurses around the clock.”
- safe old age»Det ska vara tryggt att åldras i Sverige.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Aging should be safe in Sweden.”
- strengthened preparedness in healthcare»Arbetet att förstärka det civila försvaret och krisberedskapen måste fortsätta, bland annat genom ökade resurser för att rusta och bygga beredskapslager för sjukvården« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The work to strengthen civil defense and emergency preparedness must continue, not least through increased resources to equip and build stockpiles for healthcare”
- transparency and openness»Den demokratiska processen och samhällsförvaltningen måste bygga på offentlighet och« (party programme ↗)“The democratic process and government administration must be based on transparency and”
The election manifesto promises to improve care and support for older people and strengthen resources, and the party programme points out that elderly care faces a major challenge with more older people and large pension withdrawals.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto promises to improve care and support for older people and strengthen resources, and the party programme points out that elderly care faces a major challenge with more older people and large pension withdrawals. A report on the development and needs of elderly care after the pandemic is a way to fulfill that commitment and provides insight into how power has handled the issue. However, the plan does not take a position on the form of such a document.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lovar att förbättra vård och omsorg för äldre och stärka resurserna, och partiprogrammet pekar på att äldreomsorgen står inför en stor utmaning med fler äldre och stora pensionsavgångar. En redovisning av äldreomsorgens utveckling och behov efter pandemin är ett sätt att fullfölja det åtagandet och ger insyn i hur makten hanterat frågan. Planen tar dock inte ställning till formen för en sådan skrivelse.
- strengthened elderly caredecisive»förbättra vård och omsorg för äldre och stärka resurserna till hemsjukvården.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“improve care and support for older people and strengthen resources for home care.”
- elderly care's challenge»Äldreomsorgen står inför en stor utmaning med ett ökat antal äldre i befolkningen« (party programme ↗)“Elderly care faces a major challenge with an increased number of older people in the population”
- adequate staffing»Personaltätheten måste hålla tillräcklig nivå« (party programme ↗)“Staff density must be maintained at an adequate level”
- insight and scrutiny»Medborgarna ska alltid kunna granska makten.« (party programme ↗)“Citizens shall always be able to scrutinise power.”
The plan demands that the quality of elderly care be improved and that care be delivered closer to those who need help, with a secure old age as the goal.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands that the quality of elderly care be improved and that care be delivered closer to those who need help, with a secure old age as the goal. A consolidated report on the development of elderly care after the pandemic and of remaining needs is a means to fulfil that commitment. The plan, however, says nothing about submissions to parliament, which is why the position is derived and uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att kvaliteten i äldreomsorgen lyfts och att vården och omsorgen bedrivs närmare den som behöver hjälp, med en trygg ålderdom som mål. En samlad redovisning av äldreomsorgens utveckling efter pandemin och av kvarstående behov är ett medel för att kunna infria det åtagandet. Planen säger dock inget om skrivelser till riksdagen, varför ställningstagandet är härlett och osäkert.
- improved quality in elderly caredecisive»Kvaliteten i sjukvården och äldreomsorgen ska lyftas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The quality of healthcare and elderly care must be improved.”
- healthcare and care close to the person»Vi ska bygga en vård och omsorg som sätter människan i centrum. Den ska bedrivas närmare den som behöver hjälp och med bättre arbetsvillkor för medarbetarna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall build healthcare and care that puts the person at the centre. It should be delivered closer to those who need help and with better working conditions for staff.”
- secure old age»Alla ska kunna få en trygg ålderdom med hög livskvalitet och värdighet.« (party programme ↗)“Everyone should be able to have a secure old age with high quality of life and dignity.”
The plan notes that quality differences in elderly care between municipalities are far too great and wants the state to take greater responsibility for strategic planning, preparedness and long-term competence supply.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan notes that quality differences in elderly care between municipalities are far too great and wants the state to take greater responsibility for strategic planning, preparedness and long-term competence supply. A comprehensive account of elderly care's development and identified needs is a means for the national governance the plan seeks. The plan also has concrete demands on safety in home care that presume monitoring.
Original (Swedish)
Planen konstaterar att skillnaderna i äldreomsorgens kvalitet mellan kommunerna är alltför stora och vill att staten tar ett större ansvar för strategisk planering, beredskap och kompetensförsörjning. En samlad redogörelse för äldreomsorgens utveckling och identifierade behov är ett medel för den nationella styrning planen efterlyser. Planen har också konkreta krav på tryggheten i hemtjänsten som förutsätter uppföljning.
- too large quality differencesdecisive»Skillnaderna i äldreomsorgens kvalitet är alltför stora mellan kommunerna.« (party programme ↗)“The differences in quality of elderly care are far too great between municipalities.”
- greater state responsibility»Staten ska ta ett större ansvar för sjukvårdens strategiska planering, placering av högspecialiserad vård, beredskap och långsiktig kompetensförsörjning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The state shall take greater responsibility for healthcare's strategic planning, placement of highly specialized care, preparedness and long-term competence supply.”
- safety in home care»Vi vill att du som har hemtjänst ska ha ett eget team av omvårdnadspersonal så att du slipper möta nya ansikten varje dag.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want you who have home care to have your own team of care staff so that you do not have to meet new faces every day.”
- basic quality everywhere»aktiviteter som den äldre personen trivs med, att få komma ut i friska luften om hon eller han så« (party programme ↗)“activities that the elderly person enjoys, to be able to go out in the fresh air if they”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto states that Sweden shall have world-class elderly care, and the party programme makes evaluation, cost tracking and quality control important political tasks.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto states that Sweden shall have world-class elderly care, and the party programme makes evaluation, cost tracking and quality control important political tasks. A report that accounts for the development of elderly care after the pandemic and identified needs is precisely such monitoring. The programme's requirement that everyone be able to age with dignity in well-developed elderly care reinforces the conclusion.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att Sverige ska ha en äldreomsorg i världsklass, och principprogrammet gör utvärdering, kostnadsuppföljning och kvalitetskontroll till viktiga politiska uppgifter. En skrivelse som redovisar äldreomsorgens utveckling efter pandemin och identifierade behov är just en sådan uppföljning. Programmets krav på att alla ska kunna åldras med värdighet i en väl utbyggd äldreomsorg förstärker slutsatsen.
- elderly care of world classdecisive»Sverige ska ha en äldreomsorg i världsklass.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall have world-class elderly care.”
- monitoring as a political task»Utvärdering, kostnadsuppföljning och kvalitetskontroll är därför viktiga politiska uppgifter.« (party programme ↗)“Evaluation, cost tracking and quality control are therefore important political tasks.”
- well-developed elderly care»Denna samhälleliga skyldighet innebär att äldreomsorgen måste vara väl utbyggd med hemtjänst och hemsjukvård, olika former av dagverksamhet samt ett varierat utbud av boendeformer.« (party programme ↗)“This social responsibility means that elderly care must be well-developed with home help and home nursing, various forms of day activities and a varied supply of housing forms.”
- dignified aging»Alla medborgare ska kunna åldras med värdighet.« (party programme ↗)“All citizens shall be able to age with dignity.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan explicitly states that the conclusions of the Corona Commission that elderly care was not prepared for the pandemic must lead to change, and that medical expertise and continuity must be strengthened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly states that the conclusions of the Corona Commission that elderly care was not prepared for the pandemic must lead to change, and that medical expertise and continuity must be strengthened. The counter-proposal's demand for an account of elderly care's development after the pandemic and the needs identified is a way to follow up precisely that. Moreover, the plan's position is that implemented reforms should constantly be evaluated and reconsidered.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår uttryckligen fast att Coronakommissionens slutsatser om att äldreomsorgen inte stod rustad för pandemin måste leda till förändring, och att den medicinska kompetensen och kontinuiteten måste stärkas. Motförslagets krav på en redovisning av äldreomsorgens utveckling efter pandemin och de behov som identifierats är ett sätt att följa upp just det. Planens hållning är dessutom att genomförda reformer ständigt ska utvärderas och omprövas.
- the commission's conclusions should lead to changedecisive»Coronakommissionens slutsatser om att äldreomsorgen inte stod förberedd och rustad att möta samhällsspridningen i pandemin måste leda till förändring.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Corona Commission's conclusions that elderly care was not prepared and ready to meet community spread in the pandemic must lead to change.”
- strengthened medical expertise»Den medicinska kompetensen och kontinuiteten måste stärkas inom äldreomsorgen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Medical expertise and continuity must be strengthened within elderly care.”
- evaluate and reconsider»Ett reforminriktat liberalkonservativt parti har ständig beredskap för att utvärdera, ompröva, förändra och förbättra det som genomförts.« (party programme ↗)“A reform-oriented liberal conservative party has constant readiness to evaluate, reconsider, change and improve what has been implemented.”
- safe elderly care»Den som behöver omsorg på ålderns höst ska känna sig trygg med det.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The person who needs care in old age should feel safe with it.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan assumes that elderly policy has been non-existent and that life for pensioners is anything but secure and dignified, and demands clear results for every public investment.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan assumes that elderly policy has been non-existent and that life for pensioners is anything but secure and dignified, and demands clear results for every public investment. The counter-proposal's demand for a statement reporting the development of elderly care after the pandemic and identified needs is in line with the plan's demands for follow-up and that society must not compromise on the elderly. The plan therefore supports the requirement.
Original (Swedish)
Planen utgår från att äldrepolitiken varit obefintlig och att tillvaron för pensionärer är allt annat än trygg och värdig, och kräver tydliga resultat för varje offentlig satsning. Motförslagets krav på en skrivelse som redovisar äldreomsorgens utveckling efter pandemin och identifierade behov ligger i linje med planens krav på uppföljning och på att samhället inte får kompromissa om de äldre. Planen stöder därför kravet.
- elderly policy has faileddecisive»Samhällsförändringarna har i kombination med en obefintlig äldrepolitik från de styrande regeringspartierna resulterat i en allt annat än trygg, värdig och omhändertagande tillvaro för pensionärer.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The social changes have in combination with non-existent elderly policy from the governing coalition parties resulted in a life for pensioners that is anything but secure, dignified and caring.”
- good living conditions in elderly care»En ny äldreomsorgslag måste stärka lagstödet för goda levnadsvillkor då den nuvarande benämningen med skäliga levnadsvillkor inte duger.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A new elderly care act must strengthen the legal support for good living conditions as the current designation with reasonable living conditions is not sufficient.”
- society's responsibility for the elderly»Samhället har därför en skyldighet att sörja för pensionärerna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Society therefore has an obligation to care for pensioners.”
- follow-up and results»Begära tydliga resultat för varje offentlig satsning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Demand clear results for every public investment”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:SoU20)
- Committee report full text (HB01SoU20)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1190 — Värdighet för äldre och professionalisering av äldreomsorgen av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1204 — Stärkt äldreomsorg av Johanna Haraldsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1274 — Att bryta ofrivillig ensamhet och isolering av Marie-Louise Hänel Sandström (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1300 — Ny lagstiftning för att värna säkerhet och trygghet för personer med demenssjukdom av Hanna Westerén (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1427 — Pilotprojekt - seniorhälsa av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1858 — Lagen om valfrihetssystem av Markus Kallifatides m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1974 — Fallolyckor hos äldre av Linus Sköld m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1976 — Stärka undersköterskornas yrkesroll av Zara Leghissa m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2033 — Förbehållsbelopp för utsatta äldre av Jim Svensk Larm m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2072 — Folkhälsan i fokus av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2154 — Språkkrav inom vård och äldreomsorg av Johanna Rantsi (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2210 — Språktest för arbete i omsorg/äldreomsorg av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2023/24:227 — En trygg äldreomsorg för jämlikhet av Karin Rågsjö m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2023/24:2308 — Kommunala läkare av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2309 — Krav på registerutdrag för arbete i hemtjänst och äldreomsorg av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2310 — Rimliga avgifter inom äldreomsorgen av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2313 — Språkkrav för vissa jobb inom omsorgen av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2314 — Äldres rätt att välja sin mat av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2366 — Bemanning i verksamheter nära medborgarna av Gunilla Svantorp m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2461 — Förbättrade måltider för äldre i det offentliga av Catarina Deremar (C)
Source: The Swedish Parliament