– We don’t want a rematch about who runs care for the elderly. This stole too much attention from both politicians and others. We would rather have a discussion about the content, says Renate Møgster Klepsvik, FRP’s first candidate in Austevoll municipality. The island municipality has for a long time been nationally known for many millionaires. In 2013, the municipality also became nationally known, when they became the first district municipality in Norway to privatize all care for the elderly. At the forefront was the Progress Party and then mayor Helge André Njåstad. Austevoll municipality became famous when they privatized all care for the elderly. Here is Anne-Cecilie Kaltenborn, managing director, NHO Service and Trade (centre) on a tour with then mayor Helge André Njåstad and then Aleris CEO Iren Storebø Melingen in 2018. Photo: Jon Bolstad / news Both Høgre and Frp are the same But after In the municipal elections in 2019, there was a change of mayor, and Høgre came to power. They were ready to scrap the private provision and take elderly care back under municipal control. Lord Mayor Morten Storebø is satisfied with the steps the municipality has taken after the 2019 election. For now, they almost have a luxury problem. – Look here, a room that is empty, he says, while showing one of the 16 vacant rooms at the nursing and care centre. In an article in the newspaper Marsteinen, Austevoll councilor Bjarte Madsen writes that the era of great pressure on the nursing and care center is over. Renate Møgster Klepsvik is the FRP’s mayoral candidate in Austevoll municipality. Photo: Olav Røli / news Neither Høgre nor Frp in Austevoll want to go back to the private sector again. – It is important that there is stability for the employees as well, says Møgster Klepsvik. In both parties’ central party programs, private and non-profit actors must to a greater extent run care for the elderly in Norwegian municipalities. Morten Storebø (H) has been mayor for the last four years, but is not re-elected. He believes that care for the elderly is good in the municipality. Photo: Olav Røli / news Well satisfied with the offer The number of nursing home places in Austevoll has now been reduced from 52 to 36. This is a nursing home A nursing home is a housing and care offer in the municipalities for people with extensive and often long-term health and care needs. Those who live in nursing homes are people who have such great health and care needs that round-the-clock institutional follow-up is the only offer that can ensure the necessary and safe health and care services. The vast majority of residents have a large disease burden with several diseases at the same time (multimorbidity). According to Statistics Norway, there are 39,065 places in Norwegian nursing homes. 92 percent of these are run by private individuals. A care home is a home that has been designed for people with extensive nursing and care needs. They may have common areas or be arranged for round-the-clock health and care services. Source: Store Norske lexikon, Health Norway, and Statistics Norway. Instead, several have moved to care homes with round-the-clock care, called care +. – It is reassuring that I have the capacity to meet the challenges in the future. I interpret the fact that there has been little talk of care for the elderly in the election campaign as a good sign, says Storebø. 16 rooms are currently available for those who need hospital accommodation. Photo: Olav Røli / news Two of those who now live at the care center are Odd Hansen (93) and Tor Eide (84). They both brag about the offer they have received. – I finally realized that I could no longer live at home, and that I had to get help. Now I live here and I’m doing very well, says Eide. Tor Eide (84) lived at home in his own house. But he realized that he couldn’t do it anymore. Now he lives in a care home in Austevoll. Photo: Olav Røli / news The former fisherman Odd Hansen from Karlsøy in Troms thinks Austevoll is a good municipality to grow old in. – Many elderly people in other municipalities are not doing well, he says. Odd Hansen (93) thinks older residents in Austevoll are doing well. Photo: Olav Røli / news Manager in both private and public management Iren Storebø Melingen is manager of nursing and care in Austevoll municipality. She was also the boss when private companies previously operated. – The tasks are the same, even if they are municipal or private. The main goal is to provide good services to the users, she says. At the same time, she is aware that there was a divorce. – Aleris / Stendi was a professional employer from whom we learned a lot. Nevertheless, the majority of employees found it positive to return to the municipality. Furthermore, the municipality is now in the driver’s seat when it comes to all planning of care for the elderly. Previously, everything was arranged in a long-term contract, he says. Iren Storebø Melingen is head of nursing and care in Austevoll municipality. She believes that the municipality is now equipped to welcome many elderly people in the years to come. Photo: Olav Røli / news Has had good nursing home coverage The fact that a municipality has many vacant nursing home places is more of an exception in Norway. – As a rule, it’s the opposite, says Professor Oddvar Førland at Høgskulen på Vestlandet (HVL). At the same time, he points out that Austevoll has had very good hospital coverage, and that there is an explanation for the number being able to be reduced. Many municipalities have done as Austevoll has done, replacing hospital places with different types of care homes. Despite the fact that the number of elderly people over 80 has increased in recent years, and will double by 2040, the number of nursing home places in Norway has decreased from 2018, statistics from Statistics Norway show. – A cross of thought, says Førland. He believes nursing homes are the only provision that is good enough for elderly people with particularly extensive and complex care and health challenges. Older people used to bid here. Now it is empty waiting for the wave of elderly people. Photo: Olav Røli / news – Many people reach a point at the end of their life where they need help to get food and drink, to wash themselves, and in addition to advanced health care, palliative treatment. Then nursing homes are usually the only reasonable option, says Førland. Austevoll mayor Morten Storebø is also aware that their care homes are not suitable for everyone. Especially not for those with major health challenges. – At the same time, not everyone needs a place in an institution. I saw that here in Austevoll, he explains. There are many available rooms for those who need a nursing home place in Austevoll. At the same time, they expect a large increase in demand from 2025 onwards. Photo: Olav Røli / news
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Austevoll municipality has reduced the number of nursing home places – news Vestland
