Latvia’s first hospice day center for palliative care in central Rīga has been hailed as a success, serving 44 individual patients and handling 392 social care activities during an initial six-month trial period, according to project manager Ramona Innusa. The initiative comes five years after the Saeima in Rīga rejected a voluntary euthanasia bill by 49 votes to 38, highlighting an ongoing national focus on improving state-funded end-of-life care rather than legislating for assisted dying.
The facility officially opened in April following extensive renovation works completed by the social enterprise Hospiss Māja. Equipment and personnel costs were financed by the European Social Fund Plus, covering vital items such as a functional bath for fully bedbound patients, a medical trolley, a laundry trolley, and four functional chairs. During the trial period, the center provided 113 full-body baths, 118 round-trip transportation journeys—including 66 specialized trips for bedridden patients—64 spiritual support consultations for patients, five for relatives, and 91 volunteer-led sessions like haircuts, nail care, and board games.
In addition to social care, medical professionals carried out 61 procedures during the trial. These included 10 palliative care physician consultations, 11 pressure ulcer care episodes, 10 vital-sign monitoring instances, nine medication administrations, seven indwelling urinary catheter care episodes, four gastrostomy care episodes, three post-operative wound care instances, three port catheter care episodes, two intramuscular injections, and two treatments for skin lesions. Innusa noted that bookings rose from 125 up to June 30, 2026, to 153 bookings subsequently, with patients visiting regularly or just once before passing away.
Did You Know? In 2021, deputies in the Saeima rejected the “For Good Death” (Par Labu Nāvi) bill by 49 votes to 38, with two abstentions, following a 10,000-strong civic petition and a recommendation from the Mandate, Ethics and Submission Committee.
Funding Challenges and State-Funded Care Gaps
Securing ongoing financial support remains a major challenge because day center services are not covered by the state or municipality, according to Innusa. Most operating costs rely on donations from the affiliated non-governmental organization HOSPISS LV, while only five patients have paid for their own care out of pocket. Standard state-funded care focuses heavily on clinical and hospital needs, leaving organizations like Hospiss Māja to fill crucial gaps in non-acute social care, caregiver respite, and hygiene services.
Data from the State Audit Office of Latvia (Valsts Kontrole) shows that 12,000 patients annually receive state-funded palliative care. However, the audit office acknowledged in September 2024 that the actual number of people needing these services is nearly double, affecting an estimated 21,000 Latvians every year. Meanwhile, studies on medical attitudes show stark contrasts: while the Latvian Medical Association maintains that euthanasia conflicts with professional medical ethics, an online study from May and June 2021 found that 58% of certified physicians and 82% of medical students supported voluntary euthanasia for adults.
Expert Insight: The success of the Rīga hospice day center underscores a profound tension between official institutional policies and grassroots medical reality in Latvia. While legislative bodies and medical associations have historically resisted assisted dying and limited state-funded palliative reach, the high demand for specialized day care—such as full-body bathing for bedbound patients—reveals an acute social deficit that non-governmental efforts are currently forced to shoulder through private donations.
Potential Regional Expansion Across Latvia
Because the Rīga facility is located exclusively in the capital, project leaders have received consistent feedback from other parts of the country. Innusa stated that project managers see clear potential to replicate these hospice day centers in at least four regions of Latvia: Vidzeme, Kurzeme, Zemgale, and Latgale. Whether regional roll-outs materialize will depend heavily on future funding structures, as advocates continue pushing to bridge the gap between official state-funded capacity and the real end-of-life needs of thousands of citizens.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Latvia’s first hospice day center open?
The facility officially opened in central Rīga in April, following extensive renovations that finished earlier in the year.
How many patients were cared for during the initial trial period?
A total of 44 individual patients received care during the initial six-month trial period, consisting primarily of adults with incurable illnesses who had a life expectancy of up to six months.
Who funds the operations of the Hospice Day Center?
Most service costs are covered by donations from the affiliated non-governmental organization HOSPISS LV, as the services are not currently covered by the state or municipality.
What other regions of Latvia are being considered for future hospice day center expansions?
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