City Council to consider 21 proposals on elderly care and health on Wednesday

On Wednesday 7 October 2026, Aarhus City Council will consider 21 party proposals under Elderly Care and Health as part of the second reading of the budget for 2027–2030. The proposals range from more presence in nursing homes and permanent staff in elderly care to cultural programmes, folk houses, and an annual festival—and several of them would cost between one and three million kroner per year if they are included in the budget agreement.

What this means for you

If you are an older resident, a relative, or you use the municipality’s health and community services, this is where the parties want to shift money and priorities. It can involve food and fresh air in nursing homes, cheaper meals in the folk houses, more continuity in home care, help for post-concussion symptoms, or a cultural offer meant to reduce loneliness. Nothing has been adopted yet. On Wednesday, the City Council must decide what goes into the budget.

Background

The agenda item contains 21 concrete budget proposals submitted by parties across the chamber. Radikale Venstre and Enhedslisten want Mangfoldighed – Vi skal se de oversete to reach citizens the municipality, according to the proposal, does not reach sufficiently today—including through senior communities, more one-to-one contact in nursing homes, and better matching in home care. Socialdemokratiet and Radikale Venstre want to strengthen Kultur og Sundhed Aarhus with cultural programmes, bridge-building, and a Kulturpas Aarhus for young people. Venstre’s Christian Budde and SF’s Nanna Lippert Troelsen want to make the Krop og Kærlighed festival an annual event during Aarhus Festuge.

The rest of the list spans a wide range: audiologopedic specialist teaching for transgender citizens (SF and EL), post-concussion symptoms (RV and SF), more life and cheaper food in the folk houses (V and S), peer-to-peer efforts against nicotine among young people (SF and V), repair cafés (RV), self-appointed helpers (RV, LA and DD), co-determination for older people (V), training of staff in elderly care (EL, KF, SF and RV), leisure jobs in nursing homes (RV), fewer temporary staff (V), fresh air for nursing home residents (DD), palliative care at the end of life (RV and KF), prevention rather than firefighting (RV), outwardly aggressive citizens and repatriation (S), more choices in nursing homes (LA, V, DD, DF, KF and RV), and a meat guarantee and an end to internal climate charges (DF).

The case was before the Municipal Executive on 1 September and was sent on in the budget track. After the City Council meeting on 9 September, it went to technical processing. The Municipal Executive was briefed on 15 September on technical changes and could on 29 September endorse the recommendation with technical corrections to the 2027–2030 budget proposal and recommend a state guarantee in 2027.

Figures and facts

• Radikale Venstre and Enhedslisten allocate approx. DKK 2.0 million annually in 2027–2030 to Mangfoldighed – Vi skal se de oversete, financed via the economic headroom. (Appendix — 1 Mangfoldighed – Vi skal se de oversete - RV og EL)
• Sundhed og Omsorg assesses that DKK 2.0 million annually is not enough for full implementation of all four initiatives at once, and that priorities must therefore be set over time. (Appendix — 1 Belysning A Mangfoldighed - Vi skal se de oversete)
• Sundhed og Omsorg and Kultur og Borgerservice recommend DKK 3 million annually for Kultur og Sundhed Aarhus, split with DKK 1.250 million for Kulturpas Aarhus, DKK 1 million for Kultur på Recept and other programmes, and DKK 0.750 million for a cultural bridge-builder. (Appendix — 2 Belysning A Kultur og Sundhed Aarhus – stærkere fællesskaber og mental sundhed gennem kultur)
• A Kultur på Recept programme costs approx. DKK 100,000 and includes around 10 participants; with DKK 1 million per year, approx. 100 citizens can take part, while 50–100 vulnerable young people are estimated to be able to be helped into a cultural community. (Appendix — 2 Belysning A Kultur og Sundhed Aarhus – stærkere fællesskaber og mental sundhed gennem kultur)
• Krop og Kærlighed Festival had more than 6,000 participants in both 2024 and 2025. Venstre and SF want to allocate DKK 1 million annually from 2026, anchored with MKB and MSO as leads. (Appendix — 3 Videreførsel af Krop og Kærligheds Festival - V og SF)
• Sundhed og Omsorg writes that no funding is earmarked in existing budgets, that MKB has not previously contributed financially, and that the proposal without new funds requires reprioritisation. (Appendix — 3 Belysning A Videreførsel af Krop og Kærligheds Festival)
• In the city council debate on 9 September 2026, the borgmester (mayor) said that there is a total of DKK 197 million more per year for operating costs over the coming four years and, on the other side, more than DKK 800 million for capital projects. (Appendix — Byrådsdebat 09.09.2026)

Who said what

On 9 September, SF’s Mette Bjerre pointed out that the budget is about the care worker who brings food to grandparents and warned against efficiency drives in care without end. Venstre’s Martin Christensen highlighted accessibility, primary school, and club life as the party’s three top priorities, while EL’s Sarah Jarsbo said the nearly DKK 200 million in headroom must be felt by individuals.

Konservative’s Peter Sporleder mentioned cooperation with Radikale Venstre on better options for palliative stays and more professional support in the final phase. Radikale’s Metin Lindved Aydin painted the picture of the older person who comes home from hospital and hopes someone is ready. Danmarksdemokraterne’s Jakob Søgaard Clausen demanded that the nursing home resident can get outside, that there is time for basic care, and that citizens experience freedom of choice. Dansk Folkeparti’s Thomas Christensen made dignity in elderly care the focal point when security and a helping hand must be felt after a long working life.

What happens next

On Wednesday, the second reading of the budget is on the agenda in the city council chamber. The 21 proposals are still proposals. Only after the City Council has processed them in the budget track will it become clear which initiatives get funding and which fall away.

Sources

• Agenda — Budget proposals Elderly Care and Health
• Appendix — Byrådsdebat 09.09.2026
• Appendix — 1 Mangfoldighed – Vi skal se de oversete - RV og EL
• Appendix — 1 Belysning A Mangfoldighed - Vi skal se de oversete
• Appendix — 2 Belysning A Kultur og Sundhed Aarhus – stærkere fællesskaber og mental sundhed gennem kultur
• Appendix — 3 Videreførsel af Krop og Kærligheds Festival - V og SF
• Appendix — 3 Belysning A Videreførsel af Krop og Kærligheds Festival
• Aarhus Municipality meeting documents — meeting
• Aarhus Kommune

Other appendices

• Appendix — 2 Kultur og Sundhed Aarhus – stærkere fællesskaber og mental sundhed gennem kultur - S og RV
• Appendix — 4 Tilgængelighed af audiologopædisk specialundervisning til transkønnede borgere - SF og EL