What services does home care provide?

The goal of the Home Care Department of the East Iceland Health Institute is to enable individuals to continue living in their own homes for as long as possible, based on their health and social circumstances, in close cooperation with the individuals themselves and their families.

Who can receive home care?

Anyone who lives in Fjarðabyggð and needs it for a longer or shorter period of time can use home care services.

How do I apply for home care?

A request for home care and home services can come from the individual themselves, their family members, hospitals or other institutions. The decision to provide home care is made in consultation with a doctor or nurse at a health center or hospital. They send a written request to the home care department and or through the MóMa team, where the service is assessed and, if necessary, organized in that team and then provided by professionals in the area.

Who provides home care?

Home care is provided by nurses, paramedics and other staff in close collaboration with professionals within HSA. The home care team leader or nurse visits the individual in question and assesses the need for assistance, based on health and social circumstances. After that, a plan for home care is made in consultation with the individual and their family.

What services does home care provide?

Home care is based on the following visits:

• General care and assistance with dressing

• Assistance with personal hygiene

• Assistance with bathing

• Monitoring of correct medication intake, administration of medication (tablets, injections)

• Wound care, monitoring of stomas, etc.

• Blood pressure and blood sugar measurements

• Emotional support

• General health monitoring

• Advice and guidance on options for improving health (assistive devices, physical exercise, what is needed, where to go, hygiene, etc.)

• Other care and appropriate nursing treatment
  
  The aim is to assist home care clients to be as self-sufficient and independent as possible, given their health and physical endurance.

What services does home care not provide?

No visits at fixed, specific times
No calls at the request of the client, or family members
No watching over or staying with individuals for longer periods of the day
No social services provided by local government home care

When is home care provided?

Home care services are provided from 08:00 to 14:00 and from 15:00–21:00 Monday to Thursday. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the service is provided from 08:00-20:00. Requests for service outside these hours are considered on a case-by-case basis.
How much does home care cost?
Home care itself is free. However, you may have to pay, for example, for the tests, certificates, specialized treatment and medical consultations that home care arranges for its clients.

Home Care Supervisor

The home care team leader in Fjarðabyggð is Margrét Þóra Óladóttir.

Telephone number

• The HSA switchboard answers and guides with all health services at 470-1450 and 470-1420

• Home care – team leader 834-4383, every weekday from 8 am to 4 pm

• Home care nurses on duty in Fjarðabyggð, 470-1414

• Home care nurses on duty in Neskaupstaður, 855-2881

The goal of home care

The goal of home care is to support individuals to be as self-sufficient as possible.
With appropriate support, the aim is for individuals to:

• live at home in good and safe conditions

• maintain their independence

• promote their own health and well-being

• stay at home for as long as possible, given their health and circumstances

What services does home care provide?

Home care is provided during visits and may include:

• Assistance with grooming and dressing

• Assistance with personal hygiene and bathing

• Monitoring medication intake and administration, such as tablets and injections

• Wound care and stoma monitoring

• Blood pressure and blood sugar measurements

• Emotional supportGeneral health monitoring

• Advice and guidance on health and well-being

• Guidance on assistive devices, exercise, nutrition and other resources

• Other care and nursing treatment as needed

The goal is always to support the individual to be as self-sufficient and independent as possible.

What services does home care not provide?

Home care does not provide:

• Visits at fixed times that are always the same

• Calls at the request of the client or family members

• Residence or care for an individual for longer periods of time during the day

• Social services or home help provided by municipalities

Who can receive home care?

Residents of Egilsstaðir who need home care, for a short or long period of time, can apply for the service.

How do I apply for home care?

An application for home care is made through a family doctor or nurse at a health care center.
A request can come from:

• the individual themselves

• relatives

• a hospital

• other health or service institutions

Health care centers and hospitals send applications electronically through Saga.

The application must include, among other things:

• reason for application

• diagnosis

• main health problems
  
  The request is then sent to home care or through the MóMa team, where the need for service is assessed and arranged. If the service is approved, a nurse visits and assesses the individual's nursing needs. The service is then arranged in consultation with the individual, their family and other health professionals as needed.

Safety at home

The client's home is the workplace of the home care staff. It is therefore important that the conditions are safe and appropriate for both the client and the staff.
If circumstances arise that threaten the safety of the client or staff, for example due to disorder or violence, appropriate measures are taken.
In such cases, it may be necessary to temporarily suspend services while appropriate advice and assistance are sought.

How much does home care cost?

Home care is free of charge for individuals.
However, you may have to pay for services that home care refers to or assists individuals in obtaining, such as tests, certificates, specialized treatment and medical interviews.

Discharge from home care

The need for home care is reassessed regularly.
When an individual no longer needs home care, preparations for discharge begin in consultation with him and his family.
Discharge can occur when:

• the individual has regained good self-sufficiency

• he can take care of himself mostly or completely

• other resources are more suitable
  
  Discharge is carried out in collaboration with the individual, his family and other institutions or service providers as needed.

Home care team leaders in Egilsstaðir

• Ásta Friðrika Bergvinsdóttir

• Salka Sif Þ. Hjarðar

Phone number

• Egilsstaðir Health Care 470-3000

• Home Care Emergency 860-6840

• Medication Refill 470-3020