Private Care Homes Want Higher Daily Rates for Cooling Investments

Private residential care homes in Flanders are seeking permission to raise their daily rates to finance essential investments in cooling systems, such as air conditioning. Vlozo, the umbrella organization representing these private facilities, argues that such upgrades come with significant costs that should be passed on to residents.

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We must row with the oars we have.

Currently, the Flemish government limits the ability of care homes to increase their daily prices, permitting only standard indexation. This restriction poses a challenge for facilities looking to invest in climate control measures. Candice De Windt from Vlozo stated, "We must row with the oars we have," highlighting the current limitations.

With rising temperatures, care homes are trying to adapt. While some are implementing measures like sun shading, Vlozo emphasizes the need for a long-term strategy to structurally install cooling systems. De Windt noted, "The aging population combined with climate change means we can no longer consider air conditioning a luxury. We need to make it standard to properly address the challenges."

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The aging population combined with climate change means we can no longer consider air conditioning a luxury. We need to make it standard to properly address the challenges.

Many of Vlozo's buildings are aging, and renovating them into sustainable facilities is difficult due to high construction costs. Vlozo is appealing to the Flemish government for more flexibility in setting daily rates. De Windt explained, "We are asking for more room to increase the daily price. It's not easy, but if I want to install a boiler or air conditioning, there are costs involved. Air conditioning is not a care cost, but a living cost."

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We are asking for more room to increase the daily price. It's not easy, but if I want to install a boiler or air conditioning, there are costs involved. Air conditioning is not a care cost, but a living cost.