The matter in summary: The increasing wave of elderly people will lead to large costs for the municipalities. Politicians and experts believe that unpopular school and kindergarten cuts may be necessary to finance care for the elderly. In 2030, for the first time, there will be more elderly people than children in Norway, according to a report from Statistics Norway. In Hustadvika municipality, the number of residents over 80 is expected to double by 2037, while the proportion of young people will decrease. The municipalities must be prepared for difficult road choices in the future, and many may end up on the Robek list by 2030. The summary has been prepared by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – It is about giving the right medicine to the right patient, and that the patients receive the right dose. Vilde Sortehaug is in the process of making the medicine that the residents of the nursing home in Elnesvågen in Hustadvika municipality will receive. The weekday is hectic and there is a lot to do. But the nurse takes her time. It is important not to make mistakes. Elisabeth Hagerup stands next to her. She watches carefully when the colleague prepares the medicine. That’s how they work in teams. And that’s how it should be. But it requires that there are enough people with the right skills. – The need will increase in the future. This means that one must invest more in care for the elderly. – It is not enough with just hands. We must have people with education. They must be able to do what they are supposed to do. Elisabeth Hagerup Specialist nurse More elderly and fewer young people There will be more elderly people and fewer young people in the future. This is a demographic gap that will grow. In 2030, for the first time, there will be more elderly people than children in Norway, Statistics Norway stated in a report from 2020. This will require more people and more money for elderly care in the years to come. In Hustadvika, the number of residents over 80 is expected to double until 2037, while the proportion of young people will decrease, according to the municipality’s budget and financial plan. – This means that we have to redistribute money and make some painful decisions. But we must be clear and honest in our communication with the residents, says mayor Nils Christian Harnes (KrF). The mayor of Hustadvika municipality in Møre og Romsdal, Nils Christian Harnes (KrF), sees that the demographic development will present challenges. Photo: Trond Vestre / news In Hustadvika municipality, this may mean that questions about closing down or merging schools will come up. These are heated issues that often cause conflicts. – When we look at the number of pupils, it is natural that this will come up to a greater or lesser extent in the future, says the mayor. But Jarle Ugelstad Klaveness, who sits for the Labor Party in the municipal council, goes further. He has no doubts about what awaits the politicians: – With more elderly people and fewer young people, we have to make structural moves. That means fewer schools. Jarle Ugelstad KlavenesArbeidarpartiet’s group leader in Hustadvika municipality Tough choice Many of the municipalities in the country are going to have a knife at their throats when the difference between the number of elderly people and the few young people becomes too great. Senior advisor Håvard Moe at KS Konsulent AS thinks so. – Either they have to give a worse offer to the elderly because there is not enough money, or they have to start some debates about the structure of schools and kindergartens, which the politicians do not want to deal with in any way. Senior adviser Håvard Moe in KS Konsulent AS says the municipalities must be prepared for some difficult road choices in the future. Photo: KS consultant And the municipalities have a bad time if they are to get it done, says Moe. He believes that the economy will come under pressure within a few years in many of the municipalities. – A year ago I said that 100 municipalities would end up on the Robek list by 2030. Now I am even more convinced. Now I wonder if this will happen even faster. Optimist In some places, the divide between the elderly and the young is already causing trouble. In Løten municipality in Innlandet, four schools can be merged into one large, joint children’s and youth school. The politicians get the case on the table in April. The forecasts show that the municipality must increase spending on care by NOK 65 million, and reduce spending on schools by NOK 15 million. For the politicians, it may mean that they have to make some difficult decisions in the future. But the mayor is optimistic. She points out that Løten is a growing municipality, and is concerned that an increase in the number of elderly people should not be a negative thing. – We have said that what is called the elderly wave we will instead refer to as a resource wave. Marthe Larsen TønsethOrdførar (Sp) in Løten municipality Will focus on the elderly At the nursing home in Elnesvågen, Elisabeth Hagerup sat down with one of the residents. It is important to have time to talk together. And it’s good to have a hand to hold. The message from those who live here is that there is a need for more help. And the situation worries Elisabeth Hagerup. – Now the focus should be on care for the elderly. It has been announced for a long time, says the specialist nurse. – We have tried to shout loudly about the need. And we probably feel at times that we are not being heard.Elisabeth HagerupSpecialist nurse
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The elderly population can lead to school cuts in the municipalities, agree mayors in Hustadvika and Løten – news Møre and Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
