Two recommendations from elder care assessment implemented in Norway

Two out of the 14 recommendations from the 2021 assessment of elder care have been implemented. One involves updating user fees, while the other focuses on revising the municipal debt limit.

Regarding the recommendation for oversight, the Parliamentary Ombudsman has noted that there is currently no oversight in accordance with the law governing home care and elder services. Some communication has taken place between the Ministry of Welfare and the Association of Municipalities regarding what such oversight should entail, but this work is not yet complete.

Sirið Stenberg, the Minister of Welfare, responded to Kristionna Winther Poulsen, a member of the parliament, who inquired about elder care, assessment, and jurisdictional boundaries. These boundaries concern the relationship between municipalities and the Employment and Social Welfare Agency.

Stenberg pointed out that there are situations where individuals may fall between the cracks. When elder care was shifted to municipalities, a parliamentary committee decided that a special body should be established to make decisions in these cases.

The Boundary Committee has resolved disputes where municipalities and the social welfare agency disagreed on responsibility. “I believe the Boundary Committee functions well, and all parties respect its decisions,” Stenberg stated.

She acknowledged that such jurisdictional overlaps are unfortunate but can be challenging to eliminate when several sectors provide closely related services.

In the area of dementia care, individuals under 67 receive day services from the Employment and Social Welfare Agency, while pensioners receive services from the municipalities. Stenberg expressed that it would be preferable for either the state or municipalities to provide the service and plans to address these questions with the municipalities as soon as possible.