Healthcare services for the elderly
With increased age the likelihood of disease and infirmity increases. In health care centres and other healthcare institutions in Iceland, there are teams that work to support and guide older people, help them to identify risk factors and provide guidance on available resources.
It is important to familiarise yourself with the available resources. First stop is always your healthcare.
The health center is usually the first stop for anyone who needs help with health issues.
Health centers offer a health-promoting reception for older people, where advice and assistance are provided to deal with the health challenges of senior years.
HÖR (health care or home care geriatric consultants) work in health centers and home care areas in many municipalities. They have acquired additional knowledge, in geriatric nursing, aging transitions, frail older people and more, as well as knowledge of specific treatment for frail older people and resources to maintain well-being and independence.
An overview of health centers can be found at Heilsuvera.
On the website of health centers, you can find information related to older people.
Residential care is intended for those who live at home and require regular health care, for example due to diseases or the consequences of illness and accidents.
Home nursing services are free of charge and include
General care and monitoring of mental and physical health
Medication administration
Dressing changes
Contact the local health centre to assess the need for home care and/or home rehabilitation.
At Heilsuvera (in Icelandi), you find educational materials on disease, prevention and health promotion.
There you can log on to My pages where you can book appointments, renew prescriptions and communicate securely with healthcare professionals.
It also allows you to view your healthcare and healthcare contact history.
Inquiries and appointments may also be submitted through Healthcare. A telephone consultation is available at 513-1700 or via email at Heilsuvera.is (in Icelandic).
Useful information about health and health promotion of older people(in Icelandic) available at Heilsuvera.
Assistance may be needed to restore and maintain function, health and quality of life.
Rehabilitation at home is for people who have applied for home support, support services or home care and it is believed that rehabilitation is likely to be successful.
Home rehabilitation is offered in several locations, including the capital area and Árborg.
More municipalities are preparing to provide this service.
The purpose of emergency services is to prevent older people from being admitted to the emergency departments and hospitals due to illnesses that can be treated at home. The service is temporary and lasts for as long as an acute illness lasts.
Emergency services to older people are of two types today, there is Heimaspítali, which is still only served by the Healthcare Institution of South Iceland and SELMA, which is the project of the City of Reykjavík.
Hospital at home
Hospital at home is a service for older people where doctor and nurse visit their patients with supportive care at home. This is a new service for older people operated by the Healthcare Institution of South Iceland.
SELMA
SELMA is a team of nurses and doctors with the goal of enhancing healthcare services for people who use home care and suffer from sudden illness or deterioration in their health. The team is an advisory backcountry for home care staff. The services are visits and telephone consultations.
The team leader of the home healthcare clinic or the general practitioner may request a visit from SELMU if this is considered necessary.
Rehabilitation admissions aim at restoring mental, physical and social skills. It is provided after illness or accidents, or to maintain the skills and prevent further impairments.
Rehabilitation is based on active participation of the patient and interdisciplinary collaboration between professionals. Rehabilitation admissions of older people are mainly in nursing homes, a rehabilitation institution or other health institution.
Here are a few examples of institutions with rehabilitation admissions
Eir rehabilitation
Heilsustofnun - Rehabilitation and health Clinic
Kristnes – Akureyri
Resting admissions are temporary stays in nursing facilities. The stay can last from a few days up to eight weeks.
In most places, it is a specific nursing home that receives individuals for respite care. The goal of the care is to enable people to continue living in their own home with temporary resting admissions.
Rest may also be provided when a close relative who has supported the person in question needs rest or is away. Service providers need to ensure individuals get enough activity that promotes continued skills.
An application for respite admission is made to the Skills and Health Assessment Committee (in Icelandic).
It is not necessary to have an approved skills and health assessment to be admitted to a rest hospital.
It can come to a point where people need more assistance than can be provided in their homes. All other measures must be fully tried before a request for a stay at a nursing home.
To be eligible for a stay at a nursing home, a Pre-Admission Assessment must be made.
After the application for skills and health assessment is submitted to the skills and health assessment committee, the application is considered at a meeting of the committee.
Nursing homes provide day-around nursing services. Medical services, physiotherapy and occupational therapy are also offered. Information on the activities of nursing homes is provided the homes themselves. More on nursing homes.