S-commune to save: Elderly residents in care homes may have to pay for toilet paper

The economy of Sundsvall municipality is said to be so poor that increased fees for elderly care homes are proposed, and the elderly residents living there may be forced to start paying for the toilet paper they use.

According to the Social Democrat Mikael Westin, chairman of the care and welfare committee, it is an increase that they “may not want to make” but have to do so based on the economic situation.

An average increase amounts to 286 SEK per month and includes, among other things, rent for aids and costs for items such as laundry detergent, toilet paper, and cleaning supplies.

The opposition councilor and Moderate Party member Viktoria Jansson fears that such an increase could hit some people hard.

– I think one has to bear in mind that it is already expensive to live in Sundsvall. Taxes are high here, and then raising fees very drastically in this way will hit those with small margins very hard, she told Swedish Radio.

– I think there are other things and other priorities that can be addressed before raising fees in this way.

Sundsvall municipality is governed by the Social Democrats, the Center Party, and the Left Party in a majority collaboration.

Twice as expensive as renting

In September, P4 Västernorrland reported that the rents in elderly care homes in Kramfors are almost twice as high as for a regular rental apartment.

The municipality could not explain the reason for this but pointed out that costs for common areas and consumables contribute to the significant difference.