In a time marked by war, increased security threats, and more societal crises, the situation for people with disabilities in Sweden is particularly vulnerable, the Socialstyrelsen reports. For many people with disabilities, support from staff can be crucial in daily life, but planning for how crises should be handled is often deficient, according to the Socialstyrelsen. Only about one-third of municipalities have evacuation plans for their accommodations for people with disabilities in the event of a crisis or war.
The crisis preparedness in accommodations for people with disabilities has deteriorated in recent years, according to the Socialstyrelsen. A few years ago, in 2021, about half of all accommodations had such a plan, indicating a significant decline in preparedness over a short period. Healthcare disparities further exacerbate risks for people with disabilities.
People with intellectual disabilities, speech and language disorders, and mobility impairments have 4-5 times higher excess mortality from obesity compared to the rest of the population. Possible causes for higher excess mortality may be that people with disabilities still do not receive fully equal health and medical care, suggesting systemic issues in healthcare access and quality. Support services for people with disabilities have been decreasing over several years, according to the Socialstyrelsen.
Support interventions such as personal assistance and escort services have decreased over several years, reducing daily support for this vulnerable group. In Sweden, about 100,000 people live with various types of disabilities, highlighting the scale of the population affected. About 40,000 people live in adapted accommodations such as group homes, service homes, or homes with other adaptations, where crisis preparedness deficiencies are most acute.
This combination of factors creates a heightened risk environment for people with disabilities during emergencies.