The standpoints of the Association
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It goes without saying that the elderly should feel secure and be able to rely on the fact that they will get help when the need arises. This is why we must have good care systems for those in increasing need of help, as well as access to advanced healthcare in cases where this is required. The local authorities and the county councils hold ultimate responsibility for this.
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We must not, however, limit ourselves to thinking in terms of care with regard to the elderly. Planning must focus on creating a society in which it really is possible for the elderly to manage and run their own lives in the way that they want. This requires an improvement in the planning of housing provision, and also in social planning that makes it possible for the elderly to participate fully in society.
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It is not primarily by referring the elderly to various forms of sheltered accommodation, for example nursing homes, that the problems relating to the provision of housing or to the isolation of individuals are solved. We must actively plan for the provision of suitable housing for the elderly.
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When renovations of old housing are carried out, they must be conducted in such a way that it becomes possible for the elderly to go on living in their homes, for example by providing more accessible toilets and bathrooms. There exists a great potential for housing for the elderly if renovations are conducted in the right way.
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New forms of collective housing, such as specially designed apartment blocks for senior citizens and collective service apartment blocks, need to be developed to respond to the needs of the elderly for safety and companionship.
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It appears that the housing companies have underestimated the market for elderly housing. The affluent 40's generation have already begun to demand more practical housing.
Facts
About elderly care. Approximately 16 per cent of old age pensioners receive some form of public care and a further eight per cent utilise public services such as transport assistance, safety alarms and food distribution.
About the home-help service. In 2004, 130 000 senior citizens received assistance from the home-help service. Since 2003, the number of senior citizens who have been granted such services have increased by three per cent, and the total number of home-help hours have increased by five per cent. Approximately 38 per cent of the clients received assistance for 1 to 9 hours per week, while four per cent received more than 120 hours of assistance per month.
About housing for the elderly. Housing for the elderly refers to various types of sheltered accommodation, e.g. nursing homes or service accommodation for senior citizens with extensive care needs that cannot be fulfilled in their own homes. Almost 105 000 people lived in such housing in 2004. This represents a decrease of 4 000 since 2003. In addition, there are currently about 9 000 places in short-term accommodation - an "interim" form of housing that complements other forms of sheltered accommodation.
About senior's apartments. There are currently an estimated 15 000 senior's apartment blocks and almost 7 000 collective housing blocks, many of which are primarily aimed at older senior citizens.
About the need. 79 percent of all old age pensioners that live at home state that they do not need help, 12 per cent are helped only by relatives, 3 percent are helped only by the homehelp service and 5 per cent receive help from both the home-help service and relatives.
About the costs. Total expenditure for care of the elderly (local authorities and county councils) amounts to approximately SEK 153 billion per year, or six per cent of GNP. Around 20 per cent of the total costs for local authorities are for elderly care.
More information
Kristina Jennbert
Development and structure of elderly care
Phone: +46 8 452 78 47
Irene Lindström
Statistics
Phone: +46 8 452 77 92
Per-Olov Nylander
Housing for the elderly and fees
Phone: +46 8 452 77 94
Per Sedigh
Local authority economy and financing
Phone: +46 8 452 77 43