2023-03-222022/23:SoU22 · p.1SoUHealth & social services
Elderly people's rights
Elder-care law and an ombudsman for older people
What's at stake: Issuing a formal request risks steering the pace of the government's processing of a proposal already under review; taking no action could delay legislation and a dedicated ombudsman for older people's rights. It affects older people receiving care and how their rights are safeguarded.
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 parliament should push the government to speed up a new elder-care law and create an ombudsman for older people, or wait for the ongoing processing of the inquiry's proposals.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee considers that parliament should not act, since the inquiry into an elder-care law has already submitted its report, which is being processed within the Government Offices; the motions on the law and an ombudsman are rejected.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (S, MP)
S and MP want the government to swiftly process the inquiry's proposal for a new elder-care law - intended to strengthen access to medical expertise - and return to parliament with a legislative proposal.
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 1 by S, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/93/0/14 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| MP | No | No 0/16/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Abstain 0/0/64/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2022/23:314 by Markus Wiechel (SD), 2022/23:927 by Linda Lindberg et al. (SD) demands 1 and 3 and 2022/23:2061 by Fredrik Lundh Sammeli et al. (S) demand 48.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:314 av Markus Wiechel (SD), 2022/23:927 av Linda Lindberg m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 1 och 3 samt 2022/23:2061 av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S) yrkande 48.
Riksdag decision: Parliament rejected approximately 90 proposals in motions submitted during the general motion period of 2022, primarily citing ongoing work. The proposals in the motions concerned, among other things, elderly people's rights, the organization and financing of elderly care, personnel continuity and conditions, language requirements for elderly care staff, and nutrition and meals for the elderly.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to present a proposal for new elderly care legislation during the term. (S, MP) — Reservation 1
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 plan requires more resources for elderly care and care provided according to need, with special emphasis on ensuring that access to care should not depend on form of housing.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires more resources for elderly care and care provided according to need, with special emphasis on ensuring that access to care should not depend on form of housing. An elderly care act that strengthens access to medical expertise is a tool for precisely this, which is why the plan supports bringing the proposal to the Riksdag. The plan, however, does not comment on the processing speed as such.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver mer resurser till äldreomsorgen och en omsorg som ges efter behov, med särskild vikt på att tillgången till vård inte ska bero på boendeform. En äldreomsorgslag som stärker tillgången till medicinsk kompetens är ett verktyg för just detta, varför planen stöder att förslaget förs vidare till riksdagen. Planen uttalar sig däremot inte om beredningstempot som sådant.
- care according to needdecisive»Vård och omsorg måste ges efter behov oavsett om du bor på ett särskilt boende eller har insatser av hemtjänsten.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Care and support must be provided according to need regardless of whether you live in special housing or receive home care services.”
- more resources for 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 ↗)“That is why the Left Party wants to invest more resources in healthcare and elderly care, and invest in staff so that we simultaneously eliminate staff shortages and strengthen staff conditions and working environment.”
- need before ability to pay»Behoven, inte betalningsförmågan ska vara avgörande« (party programme ↗)“Needs, not ability to pay, should be decisive”
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 requires a new elderly care law that ensures equally good care throughout the country and access to nurses around the clock.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly requires a new elderly care law that ensures equally good care throughout the country and access to nurses around the clock. The counter-proposal asks precisely that this bill be prepared with urgency and return to the Riksdag, which is the same thing in substance. The programme's requirement for equivalent access to care and health services throughout the country strengthens the conclusion.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver uttryckligen en ny äldreomsorgslag som säkerställer lika bra omsorg i hela landet och tillgång till sjuksköterskor dygnet runt. Motförslaget begär just att detta lagförslag bereds skyndsamt och återkommer till riksdagen, vilket är samma sak i sak. Programmets krav på likvärdig tillgång till vård och omsorg i hela landet förstärker slutsatsen.
- 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 equally good care throughout the country and access to nurses around the clock.”
- safe ageing»Det ska vara tryggt att åldras i Sverige.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It shall be safe to grow old in Sweden.”
- equivalent care in the country»Alla invånare i hela landet ska ha likvärdig tillgång till skola, vård och omsorg.« (party programme ↗)“All residents throughout the country shall have equivalent access to school, health services and care.”
The party programme states that safe and good elderly care that is based on the elderly's individual needs is important and that everyone shall be able to rely on the quality and security of care regardless of provider.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme states that safe and good elderly care that is based on the elderly's individual needs is important and that everyone shall be able to rely on the quality and security of care regardless of provider. An elderly care law that strengthens access to medical expertise is a direct expression of that commitment, and the election manifesto wants to improve healthcare and care for the elderly. The counter-proposal's requirement for swift preparation and a bill to parliament is therefore supported.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att en trygg och god äldreomsorg som utgår från de äldres individuella behov är viktig och att alla ska kunna lita på kvaliteten och tryggheten i omsorgen oavsett utförare. En äldreomsorgslag som stärker tillgången till medicinsk kompetens är ett direkt uttryck för det åtagandet, och valmanifestet vill förbättra vård och omsorg för äldre. Motförslagets krav på skyndsam beredning och ett lagförslag till riksdagen stöds därför.
- safe and good elderly caredecisive»viktigt med en trygg och god äldreomsorg som« (party programme ↗)“important with safe and good elderly care that”
- quality regardless of provider»Alla ska kunna lita på kvaliteten och tryggheten i« (party programme ↗)“Everyone shall be able to rely on quality and security in”
- strengthened elderly care»förbättra vård och omsorg för äldre och stärka resurserna till hemsjukvården.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“improve healthcare and care for the elderly and strengthen resources to home nursing care.”
The plan establishes that quality in elderly care shall be raised and wishes to give everyone the right to a fixed doctor contact, which is exactly the medical accessibility an elderly care act shall strengthen.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that quality in elderly care shall be raised and wishes to give everyone the right to a fixed doctor contact, which is exactly the medical accessibility an elderly care act shall strengthen. The party programme moreover demands rights-based legislation with enforceable rights, which speaks for a proposal on elderly rights being brought to parliament. That the demand concerns processing pace makes the conclusion derived rather than stated.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att kvaliteten i äldreomsorgen ska lyftas och vill ge alla rätt till en fast läkarkontakt, vilket är just den medicinska tillgänglighet en äldreomsorgslag ska stärka. Partiprogrammet efterfrågar dessutom en rättighetslagstiftning med utkrävbara rättigheter, vilket talar för att ett lagförslag om äldres rättigheter förs fram till riksdagen. Att kravet gäller beredningstakten gör slutsatsen härledd snarare än uttalad.
- raised quality in elderly caredecisive»Kvaliteten i sjukvården och äldreomsorgen ska lyftas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Quality in healthcare and elderly care shall be raised.”
- enforceable rights in law»Vi vill se en rättighetslagstiftning, ett tydligt samhällskontrakt med utkrävbara rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“We wish to see rights-based legislation, a clear social contract with enforceable rights.”
- right to fixed doctor contact»Vi vill ge alla rätt till en fast läkarkontakt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We wish to give everyone the right to a fixed doctor contact.”
- secure old age»Alla ska kunna få en trygg ålderdom med hög livskvalitet och värdighet.« (party programme ↗)“Everyone shall be able to get a secure old age with high quality of life and 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 wants to strengthen medical expertise in elderly care, among other things by removing the ban for municipalities to employ doctors, and it establishes that good elderly care is a right for all who need it while quality differences between municipalities are far too large.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to strengthen medical expertise in elderly care, among other things by removing the ban for municipalities to employ doctors, and it establishes that good elderly care is a right for all who need it while quality differences between municipalities are far too large. An elderly care act that strengthens access to medical expertise responds to these commitments. The plan therefore carries the counter-proposal's requirement for a swift legislative proposal.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill stärka den medicinska kompetensen i äldreomsorgen, bland annat genom att ta bort förbudet för kommuner att anställa läkare, och den slår fast att god äldreomsorg är en rättighet för alla som behöver den samtidigt som kvalitetsskillnaderna mellan kommunerna är alltför stora. En äldreomsorgslag som stärker tillgången till medicinsk kompetens svarar mot dessa åtaganden. Planen bär därför motförslagets krav på ett skyndsamt lagförslag.
- medical expertise in elderly caredecisive»För att öka tryggheten vill vi ta bort förbudet för kommuner att anställa läkare i äldreomsorgen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To increase security we want to remove the ban for municipalities to employ doctors in elderly care.”
- strengthened national steering»Skillnaderna i äldreomsorgens kvalitet är alltför stora mellan kommunerna.« (party programme ↗)“Differences in elderly care quality are far too large between municipalities.”
- elderly care as a right»En god äldreomsorg är en rättighet för alla som behöver den, oavsett ekonomi.« (party programme ↗)“Good elderly care is a right for all who need it, regardless of finances.”
- elderly rights upheld»Äldres rätt till självbestämmande ska hävdas och alla tendenser till åldersfördomar bekämpas.« (party programme ↗)“The right of the elderly to self-determination shall be upheld and all tendencies to age discrimination shall be combated.”
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 requires increased medical expertise in elderly care and that everyone shall be able to age with dignity, with dignity guarantees that specifically state what the individual can demand from the care and services provider.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires increased medical expertise in elderly care and that everyone shall be able to age with dignity, with dignity guarantees that specifically state what the individual can demand from the care and services provider. An elderly care law that strengthens access to medical expertise fulfils these commitments in substance. The plan does not comment on the pace of preparation.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver ökad medicinsk kompetens inom äldreomsorgen och att alla ska kunna åldras med värdighet, med värdighetsgarantier som konkret anger vad den enskilde kan kräva av vård- och omsorgsgivaren. En äldreomsorgslag som stärker tillgången till medicinsk kompetens fullföljer dessa åtaganden i sak. Planen uttalar sig inte om beredningstakt.
- medical expertise in elderly caredecisive»Ökad medicinsk kompetens inom äldreomsorgen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increased medical expertise in elderly care.”
- dignity guarantees»Därför ska det finnas värdighetsgarantier inom vård och omsorg« (party programme ↗)“Therefore there should be dignity guarantees within care and services”
- age with dignity»Alla medborgare ska kunna åldras med värdighet.« (party programme ↗)“All citizens shall be able to age with dignity.”
- elderly care of world class»Sverige ska ha en äldreomsorg i världsklass.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall have elderly care of world class.”
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 requires that medical expertise and continuity in elderly care are strengthened and that the same quality requirements can be imposed on elderly care as on healthcare.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that medical expertise and continuity in elderly care are strengthened and that the same quality requirements can be imposed on elderly care as on healthcare. An elderly care law whose purpose is to strengthen access to medical expertise thus carries the plan's own ambition. The plan does not state a position on the law itself, but its substance has support.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att den medicinska kompetensen och kontinuiteten inom äldreomsorgen stärks och att samma krav på kvalitet ska kunna ställas på äldreomsorgen som på vården. En äldreomsorgslag vars syfte är att stärka tillgången till medicinsk kompetens bär därmed planens egen ambition. Planen uttalar sig inte om lagen som sådan, men dess sakinnehåll har stöd.
- strengthened medical expertisedecisive»Den medicinska kompetensen och kontinuiteten måste stärkas inom äldreomsorgen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Medical expertise and continuity must be strengthened in elderly care.”
- same quality requirements on elderly care»Samma krav ska naturligtvis kunna ställas på äldreomsorgen, när den behövs på ålderns höst. Det är en anständighetsfråga.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The same requirements can naturally be imposed on elderly care, when needed in old age. It is a matter of decency.”
- fixed doctor contact»Se till att den patientansvariga läkarkontakten ska utgöra navet i äldres sjukvård« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Ensure that the patient-responsible doctor contact forms the centre of elderly healthcare”
- safe and dignified old age»Äldre har en självklar rätt till en trygg och värdig ålderdom« (party programme ↗)“Elderly people have an obvious right to a safe and dignified old age”
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 requires a new care for the elderly law that strengthens legal support for good living conditions, as adequate living conditions are not sufficient, and also wants to see ombudsmen for the elderly in every municipality.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly requires a new care for the elderly law that strengthens legal support for good living conditions, as adequate living conditions are not sufficient, and also wants to see ombudsmen for the elderly in every municipality. The counter-proposal's requirement that the bill proposal be expedited and returned to the Riksdag is the same thing in substance. The plan's starting point is that everyone should be able to age with dignity.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver uttryckligen en ny äldreomsorgslag som stärker lagstödet för goda levnadsvillkor, eftersom skäliga levnadsvillkor inte duger, och vill dessutom se äldreombudsmän i varje kommun. Motförslagets krav på att lagförslaget bereds skyndsamt och återkommer till riksdagen är samma sak i sak. Planens utgångspunkt är att alla ska kunna åldras med värdighet.
- new care for the elderly lawdecisive»En ny äldreomsorgslag måste stärka lagstödet för goda levnadsvillkor då den nuvarande benämningen med skäliga levnadsvillkor inte duger.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A new care for the elderly law must strengthen legal support for good living conditions as the current designation of adequate living conditions is not sufficient.”
- ombudsman for the elderly in municipalities»Se krav på äldreombudsmän i varje kommun« (2022 manifesto ↗)“See requirements for ombudsmen for the elderly in every municipality”
- dignified ageing»Alla människor skall kunna åldras med värdighet.« (party programme ↗)“All people shall be able to age with dignity.”
- prioritise elderly affairs»Tillse en renodlad äldreminister.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Ensure a dedicated minister for elderly affairs.”
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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:SoU22)
- Committee report full text (HA01SoU22)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1289 — Riktlinjer om chefsutbildning för bättre äldreomsorg av Sanna Backeskog och Sanne Lennström (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:1336 — Undernäring bland äldre av Mats Wiking (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1401 — Ofrivillig ensamhet och isolering av Marie-Louise Hänel Sandström (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1850 — Språkkrav för vissa jobb inom omsorgen av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1852 — Äldres rätt att få välja sin mat av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1854 — Avgifter i äldreomsorgen av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1974 — Lagen om valfrihetssystem av Eva Lindh m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2011 — Språkkrav inom vård och äldreomsorg av Johanna Rantsi (M)
- Motion 2022/23:2018 — Förlängd satsning på Äldreomsorgslyftet av Paula Holmqvist m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2061 — Utgiftsområde 9 Hälsovård, sjukvård och social omsorg av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:313 — Värdighet för äldre och en professionalisering av äldreomsorgen av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:314 — Nationell äldreombudsman av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:613 — Demokratisk kontroll över den kommunala välfärden av Markus Kallifatides (S)
- Motion 2022/23:67 — Krav på registerutdrag för arbete i hemtjänst och äldreomsorg av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2022/23:696 — Äldreomsorgen av Niklas Sigvardsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:85 — En äldreomsorg för framtiden av Karin Rågsjö m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:856 — En stärkt folkhälsa från barndom till ålderdom av Anders W Jonsson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:859 — Ekonomisk trygghet vid ålderdom av Martina Johansson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:90 — Pilotprojekt - Seniorhälsa av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2022/23:901 — En äldreomsorg med trygghet och valfrihet i hela landet av Christofer Bergenblock m.fl. (C)
Source: The Swedish Parliament