The Seimas Ombudsman has identified major human rights problems in social care institutions among these insufficient cleanliness and violation of hygiene norms. Moreover, it was observed that some residents of social care institutions have to get used to unpleasant smell in the living premises as well as dirty bedclothes.

Visiting social care institutions of Kaunas and Panevėžys districts during the May-October period in 2015 the officers of the Human Rights Division of the Seimas Ombudsmen's Office have identified dozens of human rights violations. Most of them, in the opinion of the Seimas Ombudsman, might have been avoided if the managers of such institutions had changed their attitudes towards the residents.

The officers of the Seimas Ombudsmen's Office have also noticed that not all the social care institutions set up emergency assistance systems or they were installed in a way the residents would not be able to reach it due to physical limitations or old age.

Another significant problem in social care institutions is steep staircases. “In some institutions they are so steep that evacuation in case of fire would not be possible for the disabled residents or those who are in poor health,” noted the Seimas Ombudsman.

Mr. Normantas emphasised, that not all the managers of social care institutions understand that human rights have to be respected and people do not lose human dignity with old age. “There are still many social care institutions where personnel enter rooms without knocking; change elderly diapers in front of other residents without using a screen,” remarked the Seimas Ombudsman.

In addition, some of the residents of social care institutions are fastened or other means of physical restraints are applied to them. Moreover, the occurrences of application of means of physical restraints are neither recorded nor the necessity of application of such means is delineated. Furthermore, time and date of use of physical restraints is not indicated.

“Resort to means of physical restraint are only very rarely justified and must always be expressly ordered by a doctor. Furthermore, means of restraint should be removed at the earliest possible opportunity and they should never be applied, or their application prolonged, as a punishment,” noticed he.

One of the main principles of social care services and their provision is involvement of every resident of a social care institution into social care planning process. However, there are still many institutions that do not involve residents and their relatives into this process.

It is observed that not all institutions have activity programs for the elderly people.There is lack of educational activities and games there. In some institutions physical activities to keep the elderly people active as well as activities to develop their social skills are not organised and social relations among other residents and relatives are not encouraged,” noted the Seimas Ombudsman in his conclusions.

Some social care institutions also do not provide seasonal clothing and footwear for their residents and in cases such clothing and footwear is provided, it is not personalised but grouped according to size and type.

“Clothing is washed less than once a week. Moreover, it is dirty and tattered in some social care institutions. Hygiene norms stipulate that clothing should be changed on demand or once a week,” emphasised the Seimas Ombudsman.

After visits to social care institutions, the Seimas Ombudsman draws conclusions and provides recommendations to heads of social care institutions and institutions which are responsible for the supervision of them. Law on the Seimas Ombudsmen stipulates that the authorities must investigate the recommendations of the Seimas Ombudsmen and enter into a dialogue with them concerning possible implementation of the recommendations. Moreover, they have to inform the Seimas Ombudsmen about the results of the implementation of these recommendations.