news was recently able to tell about several paid visitor offers that have come on the market. One of the biggest players, Vil mer, announced this spring half price on the visitor service “Hverdagsvenn”. – Leit Lise Wiik thinks the development is sad. – First of all, I think this is sad to hear, she says to news. County leader of the Pensioners’ Association in Vestfold and Telemark, Lise Wiik Photo: Anita Moland / news One thing is that you can buy services to clean the house or tidy up the garden, i.e. practical help. Paying for a visiting friend seems strange to her. – Then we cross an ethical boundary with me, says Wiik. She reminds that many organizations offer voluntary visitor services, including her own association. – There are many people who stand up as friends on a voluntary basis. For me, this is something completely different. Understand the question Will more is one of several companies that offer paid visitor services. The general manager, Øystein Landgraff, understands that some may question the paid service. He still believes that they contribute to solving a major challenge in society. Øystein Landgraff, general manager of Vil mer. Photo: VilMer – The Minister of Health says that we must take greater responsibility for our own old age. You can of course think different things about it, but if we are unable to solve the need with volunteering, we have to think differently, he believes. He doesn’t think you can expect more from the relatives, when the needs are constantly increasing as more and more of us get older in Norway. – We understand the question from the Pensioners’ Association, and have been in agreement for a long time, but are trying to find the best solutions in relation to a problem that many people are talking about, he says to news. Feels unnatural Karl-Fredrik Tangen is not surprised that some people react to paid visitor services. He is a social geographer and senior lecturer at Kristiania University College. Tangen emphasizes that he is not criticizing the companies. – Then it is rather our society that has a problem, he believes. – You step into an area where it is not natural for people to think that the money should be. He believes we will see more examples of paid services in the coming years. When commercial actors come in, it gives a feeling that something is getting dirty, Tangen believes. – This has somehow been pure and genuine in different ways. Either by your family doing it, or the community. Karl-Fredrik Tangen, social geographer and senior lecturer at Kristiania University College. Photo: Lars Tore Endresen / news – Caring should not be cynical. You should care about your children, your friends and your family without making money from it, says the social geographer. He thinks the phenomenon hits us a little extra hard in Norway. – What is special about Norway is that, more than many other countries, we feel that “here is the welfare state”. The responsibility people have had for the weak in their family has perhaps become a little lost. In Norway, it should not be the market that comes in. This is where some of what we have built up unravels, he believes. Tangen believes it is about more than a moral question. – It is more about how the system is built, and how the welfare society is to be financed. – Skeptical Thomas Hansen, age researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, believes loneliness is one of the biggest health challenges of our time. He admits that he is skeptical about the service, but that he is nevertheless excited about how the offer will be received. Thomas Hansen, aging researcher at FHI. Photo: Private – Many will not be able to afford this. Those are pretty stiff prices, he thinks. In addition, the researcher believes that many people will find it unpleasant that you do this on paid time. – It might feel a little extra poor and stigmatizing. It can create an extra feeling of outsiderness and loneliness, says Hansen.
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Responds to paid visitor services – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
