Norwegian care home ends communal meals, sparking outrage from residents and singer Elisabeth Andreassen

A nursing home in western Norway has stopped serving communal meals, forcing elderly residents to eat alone in their rooms—a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from residents, relatives, and singer Elisabeth Andreassen, reports Dagbladet.

Until March, residents at Byrknes care and nursing centre in Gulen municipality gathered daily in a shared dining area for meals and socialising. Now, all meals are delivered to individual apartments, eliminating what many described as their most important daily interaction.

Andreassen, known for her outspoken views, condemned the change in a text message to Dagbladet, calling it “unheard of” that staffing shortages could lead to such measures. “I don’t understand why it would take longer to serve meals in a shared space—walking to each room must be more time-consuming,” she said. “The pressure on staff is so high that they’ll end up quitting, which will only create more problems. We need to prioritise the health of employees, relatives, and the elderly!”

In a Facebook post, Andreassen questioned whether robots would soon replace human care: “Is it really possible that the municipality decides the elderly at Byrknes must eat alone in their rooms? The social aspect is so important—conversation, laughter, and community, even for a short time each day!” Her post received widespread support from commenters opposing the change.

Reidun Halland, municipal director of Gulen, acknowledged the criticism but defended the decision as a “professional assessment” to allocate limited resources where they are most needed. “We must prioritise care services for those who need them most,” she told Dagbladet, adding that the centre’s apartments are private homes, not an institution, and residents receive home-based services comparable to those in private housing.

The municipality stated on its website that the change was not intended to remove a “pleasant” activity but to ensure “good and defensible” care for all. “Some thrive in social settings, while others need quiet, help, or tailored support,” the explanation read. Halland noted that such resource constraints would likely become more common in Norwegian elder care.