A 94-year-old Danish woman from Virum is furious after the government decided to cut a support program that helped blind and visually impaired seniors live more independently. The decision could leave hundreds across Denmark isolated and struggling to manage daily life.
Support Program Ends in March 2026
When March 2026 arrives, Aase Sølling, a 94-year-old resident of Virum with less than ten percent of her vision left, will lose a crucial part of her independence. The Danish government decided not to fund the companion assistance program for blind and visually impaired pensioners in its 2026 budget.
The program, which began in 2021, has given eligible seniors up to seven hours of monthly companionship and guidance from trained assistants. It allowed them to get to medical appointments, run errands, and handle official business at local institutions like the town hall.
Without it, many like Sølling will have to rely entirely on relatives or friends. She told TV 2 that she now has no way to get to the Lyngby Town Hall to solve digital issues such as MitID login problems. Routine doctor visits will also become a new challenge. For more information, visit [TV 2’s full coverage on the case](https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2025-11-09-94-aarig-svagtseende-raser-over-at-ledsagerordning-fjernes).
Family Support Stretched Thin
Sølling’s two adult children help her as much as they can. Her son lives in Copenhagen’s Østerbro district and handles her finances. Her daughter works in Gilleleje, where she manages a youth institution and runs her own psychology practice. Both are willing to help, but the loss of the public program adds significant pressure to their already busy schedules.
She says it feels unfair that seniors who have worked their whole lives will now need to depend so heavily on family support for basic needs like transportation and information access.
Lives Made Harder Without Assistance
The situation has also shaken others who rely on the same scheme. One of them is 83-year-old Jens Hviid Sørensen, a blind man from North Jutland suffering from the eye disease AMD. When he heard that the program would be scrapped, he said he felt “completely lost.” He used the companion service to do small everyday things most people take for granted, such as going for a walk or shopping for essentials.
TV 2 has also reported on [Sørensen’s reaction to the cancellation](https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2025-10-28-83-aarig-blind-mand-gik-i-sort-da-hans-ordning-blev-droppet-paa-finansloven), showing the emotional impact on thousands of vulnerable Danes.
For many participants, the program played a vital role in reducing loneliness and maintaining social connections. With its closure, they face a future of isolation and dependence on volunteer help or family members.
Criticism from the Danish Association of the Blind
The Danish Association of the Blind, known as Dansk Blindesamfund, strongly criticizes the government’s decision. According to its national chairperson, the removal of the program excludes visually impaired people from society by taking away their ability to move safely outside their homes with the help of a companion they trust.
The organization warns that the end of the companion scheme will severely affect social participation and emotional well-being for many older citizens. Those without family networks could end up entirely cut off.
Budget and Scope of the Program
According to an evaluation by the Danish Parliament’s Social Affairs Committee, the program cost the state about 19.8 million Danish kroner in 2025. Approximately 1,000 people qualified for the support, and around 75 percent of them were women. Despite the relatively low cost compared with the potential impact, the Ministry of Social Affairs did not include the funds in the new 2026 state budget.
The government has not offered an alternative solution. As of this week, Social Minister Sophie Hæstorp Andersen has not commented on the decision. The ministry stated that she was unavailable for interviews on Sunday.
For context on how this decision affects society, visit [TV 2’s social affairs section](https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund) for continued updates and related reports from across Denmark.
Everyday Barriers for the Elderly
The cut comes as many older Danes already struggle with the country’s fast digitalization of public services. Tasks like online banking, MitID logins, or medical booking systems are increasingly digital-only, leaving those with partial sight or blindness heavily dependent on personal assistance.
The removal of the companion program will likely widen the gap between those who can manage their affairs independently and those who cannot. Advocates argue that the government’s move contradicts Denmark’s efforts to promote accessibility and inclusion.
Hope for Change
Even so, visually impaired citizens like Aase Sølling continue to hope that lawmakers will reconsider before March 2026. Public pressure is growing, with advocacy groups and citizens calling on the Ministry of Social Affairs to restore the support.
Despite the frustration and fear, there remains cautious optimism that political awareness and mounting criticism will lead to compromise before the program disappears entirely.
Sources and References
TV 2: 94-årig svagtseende raser over, at ledsagerordning fjernes
TV 2: 83-årig blind mand “gik i sort”, da hans ordning blev droppet på finansloven
TV 2 Samfund
