BASIC FINDINGS FROM THE INSPECTIONS PERFORMED IN HOMES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH MENTAL RETARDATION, HOMES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISORDERS AND HOMES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA On 26th January 2012 the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria ratified by law the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The document provides undertaking active steps by the state to protect the rights of people with disabilities and compliance with the standards set out in it, as well as provision of tools and environments to support decision-making by people with disabilities so that they would be able independently and effectively to exercise their rights. During the inspections the NPM has found that the large number of customers using services in homes for elderly people with mental retardation (HEPMR), homes for elderly people with mental disorders (HEPMD) and homes for elderly people with dementia (HEPD) is kept regardless of vision to deinstitutionalize such services. This leads to the conclusion that there is still no alternative to institutional care. There are no sufficient support services in the community (protected, transitional housing centres and family-type centres). Living conditions and care provided in the institution The trend such type of social services to be located in places far from big cities is quite common. This fact, along with the lack of transport links, hinders the access of qualified professionals and the provision of health services to customers. The above significantly reduces the extent of ensuring the rights of people with mental retardation, mental disorders and dementia. As a negative finding could also be indicated the lack of ramp for people with disabilities in many of the homes, which violates art. 40g, item 1 of the Rules for implementation of the Law on Social Assistance. On this occasion, recommendations have been sent to the Social Assistance Agency and to the municipality mayors and the NPM has been assured that in 2013 ramps in homes where they are lacking will be built. During performance of the investigations by the NPM it has been also found that some homes (e.g. HEPMR „St. Vrach” - Plovdiv, HEPMR - Dzhurkovo) do not provide enough toilets and dormitories for the customers, which is in violation of art. 40f, item 2 and 4 of the Rules for the implementation of the Law on Social Assistance (RILSA). In violation of art. 40g, item 3 of Rules on implementation of the Law on Social Assistance there are no emergency call systems in most homes equipped with an easily accessible alarm button. Most of the homes inspected do not also have security, cameras and alarm systems in dormitories. 38 Annual Report of the National Preventive Mechanism | OMBUDSMAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA