On Saturday, the Prime Minister and Minister of Local Government met at Lindeberghjemmet in Oslo. Here they talked about how the government will give a boost to the elderly. – In next year’s budget, we will provide NOK 300 million in a subsidy scheme that the municipalities can use to build nursing home places. It will give an estimated 1,500 new places, so then we are up to 3,500 on our watch, says Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) to news. – This is a big investment. Now it’s time to build. The municipalities have plans for that, says Støre. Splice team According to the Ministry of Health, the investment subsidy will increase from NOK 2.7 billion in 2023 to NOK 3 billion in 2024. The extra 300 million makes the government and the state commit to a total sum of NOK 3 billion over ten years. But the state is dependent on the municipalities paying the rest. The subsidy from the state makes up 50-70 per cent of what a place costs. – Yes, it is a splicing layer. But this money should help to trigger that they can take that investment, says Støre. In addition to more places, the government promises a skills boost for employees in the care and care sector to ensure recruitment. Skills boost In addition to more places, the government promises a skills boost for employees in the care and care sector to ensure recruitment. – A number of unskilled workers are entering care for the elderly. In Oslo, there are big plans to give them a boost in skills. We want to contribute to that throughout the country, says Støre. The government will, among other things, strengthen the vocational school offer, invest in decentralized courses of study and make it easier to take further and further education. How much money will be set aside for this will be known later. – Much in demand Local Government Minister Sigbjørn Gjelsvik (Sp) believes the government’s budget law will provide more predictability for the municipalities. – This is something that is in great demand in the municipalities. Now they get more funds from the state to contribute to the big promise they have to make, says Gjelsvik. Sigbjørn Gjelsvik, Local Government and District Minister. Photo: Josef Benoni Ness Tveit / news The municipalities receive a grant from the state when they want to build nursing homes or care homes. It is provided through Husbanken: The investment grant will stimulate the municipalities to renew and increase the supply of places in nursing homes and care homes for people who need health and care services around the clock. Says the government wanted to cut last year – This is a government that in this year’s budget proposed to cut this subsidy, so it is good that they now understand that there is an increased need for nursing home places and care homes in the municipalities. That’s what the leader of the health and care committee, Høyre’s Tone Wilhelmsen Trøen, says. Tone Wilhelmsen Trøen, Conservative leader of the health and care committee. Photo: Martin Fønnebø / news She says that Norway faces a challenge with an aging population and many of them will need a place in a nursing home. There is therefore a need for the municipalities to receive grants to build enough places. These 1,500 places are a good addition to that. – Now there are two weeks left until the election. It is good that the government is now promising fines and recovery to those who actually wanted to cut this subsidy. Then they have to deliver afterwards in practice, says Trøen.
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The government promises 1,500 new nursing home places – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
