How Care to Translate supports the transition to new Swedish language requirements in elderly care

On July 1, 2026, new legal requirements are expected to come into effect in Sweden, increasing the responsibility of elderly care providers regarding the language proficiency of their staff. The goal is clear: to strengthen patient safety, and ensure that our elderly can understand and make themselves understood.

For municipalities and private providers, this means a requirement to work systematically and continuously to raise the level of Swedish language skills among staff. However, language development takes time – often years – and care must function safely every single day while that process is ongoing.

Supporting the employer's responsibility

The government's proposal, presented in collaboration with the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen), emphasizes that the responsibility lies with the employer. This is not about closing the door on employees who do not yet meet the recommended B2 level, but about creating structures that support them in their daily work.

This is where Care to Translate steps in as a practical operational support. We act as a bridge and a "safety net," enabling safe communication while staff undergo Swedish language training. By using the app, employees can translate instructions and dialogues from their mother tongue to Swedish – and vice versa – ensuring that no vital details are lost in the care encounter.

How is the tool used today? Three real-world examples:

We are already seeing how municipalities and care facilities use our solution to manage linguistic challenges systematically.

Tranemo Municipality

• ‍Challenge: Growing linguistic diversity and elderly residents reverting to mother tongues due to dementia.‍
• Outcomes: Reduced agitation among residents and lower stress for staff. The app serves as a "safety net" during night shifts and home visits when interpreters are unavailable.

City of Borås

• ‍Challenge: Risks of GDPR violations and clinical "hallucinations" when using non-compliant tools like Google Translate.‍
• Outcomes: Eliminated legal risks through a secure, medically quality-assured platform. Achieved rapid implementation via superusers in just one week.

Molde kommune, Norway

• Challenge: The need for rapid communication support due to an increase in refugees and new international staff.‍
• Outcomes: A reliable tool that solves language barriers throughout the patient journey, across all healthcare areas.

Not a testing tool – but a communication support

It's important to emphasize that Care to Translate is not a tool for testing or certifying language levels. We are an operational support designed to:

• Guarantee care recipient safety here and now
• Reduce frustration and misunderstandings within the team
• Provide staff with a tool to feel confident in their professional role while they undergo formal language training

As Minister for the Elderly and Social Security, Anna Tenje, states: "The elderly must be able to understand and make themselves understood." We are proud to help Swedish municipalities achieve that goal, step by step, while fostering a safer work environment for everyone.

Is your municipality working on implementing the new language requirements? Contact us to learn more about how we can support your systematic quality management.

Want to know more about the new requirements?

The requirement is proposed to apply from July 1, 2026, and covers all staff performing care-related interventions. The focus is on ensuring staff can understand instructions, communicate with relatives, and document correctly. 

Read more in the government memorandum: A language requirement in elderly care.