The following abstracts may be of interest for list members wanting
information on Swedish services for older people:
Annerstedt, L., 1993, Development and consequences of group living in
Sweden. A new mode of care for the demented elderly. Soc Sci Med 37(12),
1529-38.The process of developing a new mode of care for the demented
elderly, group living (GL), is evaluated and the consequences discussed.
The increasing proportion of very old persons in Sweden means a higher
prevalence of dementia. The majority of patients in traditional
institutional long term care show cognitive deterioration. An insufficient
caring situation, both in quantity and quality has long been observed.
This, and a better knowledge and understanding of dementing diseases, their
symptoms and consequences, has been the impetus to develop an alternative
care model, group living (GL), for well defined groups of demented elderly.
The concept of GL discussed here means a setting strictly adapted to the
abilities and psychosocial needs of moderately diseased Alzheimer and
vascular demented patients. Security, integrity promoting therapy and
activation are specially stressed. The importance of informing and
educating different kinds of actors simultaneously to structural changes in
social and physical patterns within the implementation of the new concept
is illustrated.
Cates, N., 1993, Trends in care and services for elderly individuals in
Denmark and Sweden. International Journal of Aging & Human Development,
37(4), 271-276. Both Denmark and Sweden have achieved a reduction in
institutionalization of elderly individuals; 23 percent nursing home care
in Denmark from 1980-89 and 34 percent overall institutionalization in
Sweden from 1970-1985. This was accomplished by increasing home care and
housing with services and adaptations. Further increases in growth of the
elderly population combined with modest economic expansion will be the
forces responsible for finding additional alternatives to costly
institutional care. Community-based services and care have not been
demonstrated at this time to be less costly than institutional care. An
illustration of an innovative model of nursing home care in Denmark is
described. The medical model of care was abandoned in favor of a self-care
model for the purpose of fostering independent living and decision-making
as long as possible. In Sweden, a reduction in demand for beds in a
long-term care hospital has been achieved through a tightly coordinated
system of care and services among the various health and social service
professionals.
Your sincerely
Dr. Vanessa Burholt
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* Prifysgol Cymru, Bangor /\ University of Wales, Bangor *
* / \ /\ *
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* Dr. Vanessa Burholt *
* Deputy Director *
* Centre for Social Policy Research & Development *
* Institute of Medical and Social Care Research *
* University of Wales, *
* Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales, UK. LL57 2DG *
* *
* Tel: +44 (0)1248 382596 Fax: +44 (0)1248 362029 *
* E-mail: [log in to unmask] *
* http://www.bangor.ac.uk/csprd/staff/vanessa.htm *
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