– I don’t think it’s right. I think you should have good offers regardless of where you live in the country. And then the politicians have to ensure that, says Inger Aarvig. She and her husband Ivar have always liked to travel. Inger’s husband, Ivar Jachwitz, was formerly a leader in the Norwegian Standardization Association and traveled a lot. She often accompanied him on the journeys. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news They looked forward to traveling more when they became pensioners ten years ago. But already after two and a half years, Inger had to send her husband to the doctor. – He couldn’t find words. He also struggled to do things he loved. Like skiing. – He became very unstable. A year later, Ivar was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Symptoms of dementia: Significant forgetfulness: Dementia can cause forgetfulness to become noticeable and affect the ability to function in everyday life, especially for new events. Problems with carrying out tasks: Routines in everyday life disappear, and the ability to solve problems is reduced. Tasks and tools that used to be simple and familiar are now difficult to handle. Language problems: Forgets simple words or uses the wrong words, making sentences difficult to understand. Disorientation: Difficulty keeping track of which day, month or season it is. May have difficulty knowing whether it is morning or evening and may turn the clock around. Impaired judgement: May have problems dressing for the weather and season. It can become difficult to make purchases and manage finances. Difficulties with abstract thinking: It can be difficult to understand numbers and symbols, such as traffic signs. It can also be difficult to understand what kind of relationship you have with other people. Change in behaviour: Can change behavior, either suddenly or over a long period of time. The person may experience rapid mood swings, without an obvious cause. Flatter mood rent: may lose interest in what was previously important. They can become uninitiative and restless, and they can have trouble filling their time with something meaningful. Misplacing objects: May put objects in the wrong places, such as irons in the fridge or cups in the bathroom cupboard. Source: Helsenorge At work around the clock The offer dementia sufferers and their relatives receive depends on where they live. It varies from municipality to municipality and from district to district in Oslo. When Ivar fell ill, Inger missed someone to talk to. Although the district had both a dementia coordinator and a separate team, she had many questions. – I missed someone who understood the situation I was in. Inger Aarvig shows a picture of her and her husband Ivar. The man was in Demenskoret, and the photo was taken after a performance at Chat Noir. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news When Ivar was lucky enough to be included in the first season of the news series about the Dementia Choir, things got better. – It was fantastic for us relatives. We got a network. But Inger felt that she was at work around the clock. She needed a breather. Ivar received relief 10 hours a week. – I had a working week of 158 hours. And there are no people who work that much. When Ivar was on relief, he had to go away. He was unhappy. Inger believes that you have to think anew. She has a hobby. – Feel free to call it relative replacement. A relief in the home. A few hours a day, a day, or several days in a row. – For many people with dementia, it is very important to have security. And that security, you have it at home. Not at a foreign institution. – Bingo and lottery conditions The number of dementia patients in this country is expected to more than double by 2050. news recently reported that many municipalities are not prepared. The National Association for Public Health is behind the survey. They believe that the municipal politicians are responsible for the situation. But also that national politicians must get on board since the challenge is as great as the survey shows. Høyre believes that it cannot be the case that the services offered to people with dementia and their relatives vary by municipality in Norway. – It is a bingo situation today, says Høyre’s Erlend Svardal Bøe (H). Erlend Svardal Bøe is health policy spokesperson in the Conservative Party. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news The party’s recipe is, among other things, a standardization of dementia care. A so-called package sequence. – We want it to be quicker to be investigated if you have a dementia disease, and for you to receive good follow-up. This is package progress The concept of package progress is known from cancer care. If your doctor suspects that you have cancer, you will be referred to a package course. There are national standardized patient procedures, where the aim is to contribute to rapid assessment and start of treatment without unnecessary waiting time. The package sequence for cancer should provide predictability and security for you and your relatives. Source: Helsenorge Bøe agrees that dementia care is not completely comparable, since dementia varies from person to person. But he believes you can take a lot of what works with you. – With the package process, we see that the patients are met in a holistic way. They do not become loose balls in the system and avoid unnecessary waiting. The Progress Party’s Bård Hoksrud also believes it is serious and unacceptable that coincidences and postal addresses determine whether you get the services you should have. – There are lottery conditions in dementia care. Bård Hoksrud is health policy spokesperson in the Progressive Party. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news He believes it is about money and personnel, and that the state must take responsibility. The party wants government funding where the money follows the individual patient. – You make sure that the money is there, and you can get the warm, safe and good dementia care that many elderly people need, says Hoksrud. Got a place in a nursing home In January last year, Ivar had become so ill that Inger was no longer able to help him in his everyday life. – In addition, I was so exhausted that I was completely on my knees, says Inger. Two months later he got a place in a nursing home. – It was a great relief to know that he came to a place where he is well looked after. Inger Aarvig believes that a lot of money is needed in dementia care and wants the Storting to allocate a separate dementia billion. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news But at the same time there was great sadness for Inger. – You get very lonely, so it has been tough. At the same time, she felt how run down she was in her whole body. – I was so tired. I slept and I slept. She spent the rest of the year recovering. – When we came over in 2024, I felt that I had got the profit back. Confirms big differences The National Association for Public Health confirms that there are big differences in the services offered to people with dementia and their relatives in this country. – It shouldn’t be like this. Everyone should have equal offers regardless of where they live, says subject manager Tone Poulsson Torgersen. The Norwegian Association believes that dementia care must be predictable and adapted to the individual’s needs. Diagnosis at the right time. Because at least half of people with dementia today lack it and diagnosis is the key to further help. Follow-up after diagnosis. Far too many people leave the doctor’s office without information or a contact person on how they can get further help. Permanent contact person in the municipality. The municipality must offer this to everyone who has complex and long-term services, but very few have this. this leads to relatives exhausting themselves doing the work the municipality is supposed to do. Respite care for relatives, which is adapted to the individual’s needs and is predictable. Day activity offer for the sick person, adapted to the individual’s needs and interests. To have the best possible quality of life and maintain as many functions as possible. Source: The National Association for Public Health. – Will not be packages The government says it is concerned with ensuring rapid assessment for dementia and treatment. And that the next of kin receive good follow-up and information. But they believe that a package process, as the Conservative Party proposes, means more bureaucracy and increased reporting, not faster health care. – Patients do not want to be packages. They are themselves and have different needs. We must ensure fast and adapted help based on what each individual needs, says State Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Ellen Moen Rønning (Ap). She believes it is important that the employees in the health service spend as much time as possible treating patients. – That is why the government has prioritized developing a number of tools and aids for healthcare personnel, patients and relatives, says Rønning. Hope the care will improve. Ivar is currently 100 per cent in need of care. He struggles to express himself. It’s mostly yes and no. His wife Inger visits him regularly at the nursing home. He is very happy to have visitors. In October, Inger and Ivar have their 30th wedding anniversary. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news Inger has several hopes for the future of dementia care. – That, to a greater extent than today, you get the help you need early on, and that you get information and help when you need it. She also hopes that good places will be found where people with dementia can live. – And where there are activities that are adapted to the individual. – What is your greatest wish? That Ivar should be fine where he is. If he is well, then I am well, concludes Inger Aarvig. Do you need someone to talk to? Contact the Dementia Line on telephone: 23 12 00 40. Here you can talk to experienced nurses. The dementia line is open Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 15.00. Published 23/09/2024, at 4:30 p.m
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What kind of help dementia sufferers and relatives receive depends on where you live – Greater Oslo
