CZY MIEJSCE ZAMIESZKANIA MA ZNACZENIE? O NIERÓWNEJ DOSTĘPNOŚCI DO USŁUG SPOŁECZNYCH DLA OSÓB Z NIEPEŁNOSPRAWNOŚCIAMI I ICH OPIEKUNÓW NA PRZYKŁADZIE OPIEKI WYTCHNIENIOWEJ W GMINACH WOJEWÓDZTWA POMORSKIEGO

Abstract

The article addresses the issue of spatial disparities in access to social services for persons with disabilities, seniors and their caregivers, situating the discussion within the framework of the geography of exclusion. Among the available range of social services, the study focuses on respite care services delivered under the Governmental Respite Care Programme for Local Government Units in the years 2022–2024. The research encompasses 123 municipalities in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. The primary aim of the study was to verify the relationship between the type of municipality and the availability of respite care services. Secondary data obtained from the Pomeranian Voivodeship Office were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis, and the results were presented in the form of statistical series as well as simple and composite statistical tables.

To enable comparison of local government units in terms of the use of public funds allocated for the implementation of respite care services, the author constructed a synthetic, three-component indicator – WZGOW (Municipal Engagement Index in the Implementation of Respite Care Services). Additionally, a chi-square (χ²) test of independence was conducted to assess whether the type of municipality (rural, urban-rural, or urban) has a statistically significant influence on the likelihood of obtaining programme funding and implementing the service.