“A hundred years in your own home” is the slogan in Melhus municipality in Trøndelag. The goal is for the residents to have good days in their old age. That is why they focus on offering housing communities with permanent staffing for the elderly and those in need of assistance. Received an award The municipality received the “Live the whole life” award 2022, for the turnaround they are now making in elderly care. – We emphasize safety, nutrition and activity. The goal is to create good weekdays. Siri Busklein, head of department for the home service in Melhus municipality. Photo: Bent Lindsetmo / news So says Siri Busklein, head of the home service in Melhus. When they hire, they look for the interests of those who will work in the housing communities. – We know that there is no cure for cognitive impairment, so we have to find other pills. Here it is the environmental pill that is important. If someone needs health care, they contact the ambulatory team from the home service, which is based nearby. The open cabin in the yard outside the housing association is used a lot for various events for the residents. Photo: Grete Thobroe / news Everyone must contribute more The fact that Melhus is breaking new ground in elderly care is appreciated by county doctor Jan Vaage at the State Administrator in Trøndelag. – The family, neighbours, friends and volunteers – everyone must contribute if the elderly and those in need of care are to be ensured good care in the future, he says. Health Minister Ingvild Kjerkol has recently stated that each of us must do more to plan for old age. The experienced county doctor believes that the public sector will not be able to have as large a share of the responsibility for care in the future as it is today. The lack of competence and personnel is already a major problem in the sector. County doctor Jan Vaage in Trøndelag. Photo: Morten Andersen / news Labor shortage – It is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit people for nursing and care. Not because the jobs are unpopular, but because we will have fewer people of working age in the future, says Vaage. The age group from 80 years and upwards will increase by 381,000 until 2050, Statistics Norway estimates. In the same period, the number of people of working age increased by 55,000. – Where are we going to get the workforce from, asks Vaage. As a supervisory authority, he sees how they struggle around the municipalities today. – There is too little staffing, high sickness absence, “turnover” and a culture that is not allowed to develop for the better. We must focus on quality work, improvement and good management. He himself hopes that the children will not move far away. – It is not certain that they should move to another municipality when my wife and I get older. It is possible that the services we receive will be poor. Success with long-term care In Melhus, too, they are worried about the increase in the number of elderly people – which means they need help from volunteers. Members of the local sanitation association are important supporters. In between, they take the residents on trips in the local area. – It’s to help, and try to get people out a bit. When we visit, they also get to talk to people other than those they meet on a daily basis. That’s what Kari Irene Løhre says, one of the volunteers at the Norwegian Women’s Sanitation Association. Kari Irene Løhre from the Norwegian Women’s Sanitary Association is one of those who stand up to help others in Melhus. Here in good conversation with Finn Waldemarsen from Horg housing estate. Photo: Bent Lindsetmo / news They also organize so-called Kløverturer for several people in the municipality, to do something pleasant both for themselves and others. – It means a lot to those who live here. They get outside, get fresh air and are physically active, says Anita Grønli, assistant nurse at Horg housing association. She enjoys her job, and says they do a lot that the residents experience as positive. The employees work 12-hour shifts, which has also provided well-being and stability in the workplace. – After all, we live with them, and the residents become more confident in us. We avoid changing of the guard, which often causes unrest in this group. The long shifts also give more consistent time off. Auxiliary nurse Anita Grønli enjoys her job at the housing association. Here together with Per Tore Høiseth, Finn Waldemarsen and Sigmund Foss. Photo: Karoline Opsal / news Employees say they break the law at work and relatives fear gross negligence. How is it in Norwegian nursing homes?
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Help from volunteers provides better elderly care in Melhus in Trøndelag – news Trøndelag
