– No one can help mum, but perhaps this can contribute to those living now getting better. That’s what Tone M. Torgersen from Nøtterøy says. Her mother, Thorbjørg Ambjørnsen, is dead, but lived at Furuheim nursing home in Larvik in the last phase of her life. The nursing home is discussed in part two of the Brennpunkt documentary: Care behind closed doors. Sharing their experiences In the programme, Torgersen and her daughter have contributed private films and notes from their mother and grandmother’s stay. Their experiences are that Ambjørnsen did not receive good enough care. In the Brennpunkt program it is shown, among other things, that she was often unkempt and dirty when they came to visit. Tone M. Torgersen has contributed to part two of the Brennpunkt documentary. Her mother lived in the Furuheim nursing home in the last phase of her life. Photo: Håkon Lie / news – It was hard to watch the programme, but there is an important message here. That care for the elderly must be taken seriously, says Torgersen. The Brennpunkt program is shown on TV on Wednesday evening, but was posted on news’s website on Wednesday morning. It has already caused reactions. – I have received a lot of feedback. They thank me for having the courage to lift this. Other relatives say they now want to follow along and be more on the ball compared to their own, she says. Has set up relatives’ telephone Municipal manager for Health and coping in Larvik municipality, Guro Winsvold, understands that some people react to the programme. – I understand that this has a strong effect on many people. Perhaps especially for residents who have never seen an old person or been inside a nursing home, it will do something to us, she says. Guro Winsvold is municipal manager for Health and coping in Larvik municipality. Photo: Rune A. Hansen / news On Tuesday, relatives at Furuheim nursing home received a briefing on the programme. In addition, the municipality has set up a next-of-kin telephone line to be able to receive inquiries. – There have not been many reactions yet. We expect that there will be more tomorrow, after the program has been broadcast. She says that the relatives from Furuheim are currently waiting for the program, but that they see the seriousness of the situation. – Do you feel that the episode gives an incorrect picture of the situation at the nursing home in Larvik? – We will probably have a discussion about how representative the picture we see here is. But it primarily shows the dilemmas our employees face, says Winsvold and continues. – In relation to helping people in a helpless situation, and the trade-offs you have to make in order to provide good care, protect and ensure co-determination, explains Winsvold. She emphasizes that the employees do what they can every day to make the situation, within the framework they have, as dignified as possible. – It is always a question of whether we have sufficient competence, enough people at work and enough time. That is something we will discuss in the future, says Winsvold. Furuheim nursing home in Larvik is mentioned in part two of the Brennpunkt documentary: Care behind closed doors. Photo: Lars Tore Endresen / news – It hurts The Norwegian Nurses’ Association also points to competence and lack of time as challenges in today’s elderly care. – One is basic knowledge and an understanding of what is needed to carry out nursing care well and correctly. The second is to have the time needed to do it properly, says Randi Askjer, county manager in Vestfold and Telemark. She thinks the program shows the challenges nurses face and that good care takes time. Randi Askjer is county leader of the Norwegian Nurses Association in Vestfold and Telemark. Photo: Berit Heggholmen / news Aksjer says that it was painful to watch the programme, but she believes it is important to place the responsibility on the politicians. – Many managers are stuck between providing good services and frameworks that are too small, says Askjer and continues: – It is the authorities, the Storting and the politicians who provide the frameworks and make decisions and laws for what dignity should be. They must know whether it is possible to implement, she emphasizes. Few supervisory cases Larvik municipality must review the incidents that appear in the Brennpunkt programme. They have also set up an internal inspection to see if anything should be corrected. – We are constantly working together with our employees to improve, says Winsvold. It is the State Administrator who supervises the municipalities, but county doctor Sigmund Skei says that they have few supervisory cases from nursing homes. Sigmund Skei, county doctor. Photo: Theodor Aasland Valen / news Larvik municipality does not stand out from other municipalities either. – We have relatively few complaints. This applies both to notifications from employees and complaints from relatives and the patients themselves. We have no basis to say that it is in bad shape, he says. news draws attention to the fact that Tone M. Torgersen is a politician in Færder municipality. She sits on the municipal council for the Frp, but speaks here as a private person.
ttn-69
Perhaps this can help others feel better – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
