Andorra Government Plans Specialised Unit for Four High-Complexity Cases at Albó Home

Four of the 45 people cared for at the Albó residence have needs that fall outside what the centre was designed to handle and require more specialised support, according to a written reply from Social Affairs Minister Trini Marín to questions from social democrat general councillor Pere Baró.

The government has acknowledged that it has so far been unable to find a suitable placement for these high-complexity cases. Technical assessments concluded that certain residents need therapeutic resources different from those the home can offer, and although the Fundació Privada Nostra Senyora de Meritxell and the ministry have explored other care options, no solution has yet allowed transfers to go ahead.

The situation has led the executive to agree on the creation of a specialised residential unit and an intensive individualised support service. The residential unit will be aimed at people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have significant difficulties regulating their behaviour, emotions or adaptation linked to mental health problems. The initiative is to be incorporated into the new agreement between Social Affairs, the Meritxell foundation and the Caixa Andorrana de Seguretat Social (CASS). Alongside it, an exceptional intensive support service will be set up with a one-to-one staffing ratio for people who need continuous, exclusive attention.

The government has said that some of these cases may still require other care alternatives.

Marín's response states that the four residents "present circumstances that differ from the profile initially envisaged for the service," and that a more suitable alternative is being assessed for them. The Albó home provides residential care to 23 people and assisted living to 22. The first serves people with intellectual disabilities who need supervision in daily activities, while the second offers permanent sociosanitary attention to users with higher support needs. The number of places is unchanged at 45.

The document confirms that situations of particular complexity have forced the adoption of additional measures. These include adding a professional to the night shift, assigning an assistant to support one resident individually and introducing round-the-clock on-site security. Direct-care staff number 34, covering assistants, monitors, educators and health personnel, alongside two coordination roles.

The government says staffing ratios comply with the current agreement, although the new accord is expected to revise them so they reflect the complexity of residents' profiles.

It adds that some highly complex cases require therapeutic resources the current residential framework cannot provide, and that the absence of suitable alternatives has so far prevented transfers. Coordination between the home's technical teams, ministry officials and other bodies, including the Mental Health Service, is maintained on a regular basis. Where needs cannot be met with resources available in Andorra, transfers to specialised centres abroad may be sought in coordination with the relevant services and always taking the person's wishes into account. Cases are reviewed individually, including through sociosanitary commissions for people in highly complex situations, based on age.