Support for Informal Care in the City of Helsinki Tarja Kivekäs Head of Social and Contact Work Responsibility of Elderly Services Social Services Department

65+ Population Prognosis in Finland ( Central Statistics, Finland: February 2005 )

THE ELDERLY CITIZENS OF HELSINKI AND THE PROGNOSIS UNTIL 2025

The Population of Helsinki by age group ( January 2006)

Support for informal care in Helsinki Many ways to support informal care families Municipal services –Caregivers allowance –Short term care in institutions –Day care for the elderly –Centres for informal care –Occasional help to families (1-4 hours) who are recieving caregivers allowance, not home care –Peer support for caregivers –Home care –Social workers services Support from voluntary organisations: information and guidance, peer groups, courses, home help, recreation events, projects etc. Services from the church: peer groups, recreation events etc.

The aim of the law of informal care To promote the care of person who is receiving informal care To ensure adequate social and health care services To ensure the continuity of care To support the role of caregivers

The amount of the people who have recieved caregivers allowance in 2007 The disabled 791 The mentally disabled481 The elderly (over 65 )1852 Totally 3113

The amounts of caregivers allowance in 2008 According to category of care intensity one1320 e/month two 662 e /month three448 e /month four317 e/month

Who can receive caregivers allowance? The person who needs care at home because of lowered funtional capacity, sickness, disability or other reason The relative- a spouse, partner or children – or some other person close to client is ready to take care of her/him Caregivers own health and funtional capacity are adequate enough to the requirements of care Informal care with other social and health services is sufficient for the welfare, health and security of the person who needs care Home is suitable for health and other circumstances to the carer

Three free days a month People recieving a caregivers allowance are entitled to 3 free days in a month during a period when the nature of the care they have provided has been very demanding During this time the municipality is responsible for providing care to the client –Short-term care in elderly care home or service house or help to home Substitute for the caregiver

Other forms to support the families Day care for the elderly Centres for informal care –Now three, coming one more still –Network model Occasional help to home (1-4 hours) to families who are recieving caregivers allowance, not home care Peer groups for people who are receiving caregivers allowance –Municipals, voluntary organisations, church

Developing the informal care in Helsinki The aim is to enlarge informal care Secure sufficient services under the free time of caregiver Support informal care families by many alternative ways 4 centres for informal care Developing day care for the needs of informal care families Exploit experiences of the caregivers Strenghten co-operation with partners