Life-long living focuses on "everyday rehabilitation" and aims to assist older people in need of personal and household services in remaining independent and increasing control over their own lives for as long as possible with minimal intrusion.
The efforts to modernize are based on three main pillars: increasing job satisfaction among the social workforce, empowering older people to live an independent and active life, and reducing public spending on elderly care.
The project is divided into the five sub-projects listed below:
- Everyday Rehabilitation and Independent Living Training Project; 2. Early detection and prevention of acute illness; 3. Home visits after hospital discharge; 4. Welfare technology; and 5. Prevention and health promotion for people over the age of 60.
Older people who require assistance from the Older People's Care Department for the first time are invited to participate in a 6-8 week rehabilitation program in which they learn how to perform everyday activities independently (cooking, dressing, showering, shopping, participating in social activities, and so on). Throughout the training, participants gain confidence and physical capacity to live on their own or with limited assistance while completing current tasks.
In collaboration with the rehabilitation team, a care assessor evaluates the capabilities of the elderly against specific inclusion criteria. The rehabilitation team includes two occupational therapists, a physiotherapist, a nurse, and a district manager from the Older People's Care Department, in addition to the assessor.
An occupational therapist, physiotherapist, and/or nurse identify, evaluate, and prepare an interdisciplinary and individual rehabilitation plan in collaboration with the care recipient based on the needs assessment. Under the supervision of the rehabilitation team, a team of 12 trainers (social and healthcare assistants, social and healthcare aides, and one planner) conducts trainings.
The independent living trainers and the interdisciplinary team adjust the individual rehabilitation plan on an ongoing basis in collaboration with the care recipient. Participants require fewer personal and household services after completing the rehabilitation program because they are self-sufficient in daily life.