AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.09.2003, Síða 12

Vilhjálmur Þ. Vilhjálmsson, City Councillor and Chairman of the Board of the Nursing Home, Eir
Greater Effort on
Behalf of the Elderly
Although considerable progress
has been made in the matters of
elderly people during the last
decades, it is clear that it is pos-
sible to improve their situation in
many fields. In my job as City
Councillor and as Chairman of
the nursing home, Eir, in
Grafarvogur, I have gained good
knowledge of these matters. I am
of the opinion that mainly the fol-
lowing fields should be developed
in order to improve the financial
situation and environment of the
elderly.
1. Increase the pension of those
receiving small pensions, and fur-
ther reduction and abolition of
property taxes.
2. Increase choices of the elderly
in housing outside the traditional
service- and nursing homes.
3. Secure necessary home nurs-
ing and social services for the
elderly living at home.
4. Secure suitable solutions for
those individuals who, according
to accommodation assessment,
are in great need for accommo-
dation in service and nursing
homes.
5. Provide easy access for the
elderly to varied social functions
and minimise their costs for tak-
ing part in these activities.
6. Increase the possibilities of
pensioners who so wish to con-
tinue to take part in the work-
force, such as in a part-time
capacity.
About Eir
Eir is a self-owned institution,
which is, in turn, owned by 11
other institutions, organisations
and local authorities. The goal in
founding Eir was to establish a
powerful service for the elderly,
where varied solutions could be
offered in an economical way.
Often, only one solution has been
provided, and it has been forgot-
ten that people’s needs are var-
ied. It is therefore only natural that
different services should be pro-
vided to meet the needs of the
individual.
In Eir, this has been possible. Eir
offers new accommodations for
the elderly, where most of the
solutions being offered today are
for the aged and ill. There are
well-equipped wards and special
wards for those with brain dam-
age, behavioural difficulties, and
the visually impaired. Overall,
Eir houses 120 people, with com-
mon accommodation in Eirarholt
for 9 people. There is also offered
accommodation for short periods
and rest catering for approxi-
mately 90 people every year.
The design objective is that the
accommodation should cater for
the needs of the inhabitants and
that the working conditions
should be as good as possible.
Safety accommodation in
Eirarhús
Connected to Eir is Eirarhús,
which houses 37 safety flats, a
novelty. The people who live
there have bought dwelling rights.
This form of accommodation has
been well received by the inhabi-
tants, relatives and staff. The
safety accommodation are flats
equipped with good service sys-
tems with service from the nurs-
ing home or according to pre-
scription by the home service in
Reykjavík and form the
Heilsugæsla and paid for by
them.
Eirarhús also offers social servic-
es, food service and more from
the service centre of the nursing
home. The flats guarantee the
safety and appropriate services
for the inhabitants, according to
what is deemed necessary at any
given time. In the safety flats,
people can live whilst their
spouse resides at the nursing
home, keeping closer contact
between the couple than other-
wise would be possible.
Nursing flats
The nursing flats which now are
being built at Eir will be taken into
use at the beginning of next year.
Their design is somewhat of a
novelty, as this accommodation is
intended for elderly people need-
ing nursing in 10 individual units
where each person has a small
flat. In that way, an attempt is
made to to create a homely
atmosphere. There are four units
and in this way, 40 new places
will bo offered for sick, elderly
people. The same building will
house 20 day-care places. It is
possible to enlarge these activi-
ties, such as offering younger
people in need of nursing servic-
es tailoured for their needs. It is
also possible to offer long term
rehabilitation for the elderly, who
have completed acute treatment
in hospitals.
The service objective of Eir
The main service policy is to sup-
port activities, care, life-fulfillment
and dignity of the inhabitants and
keep the independance and self-
respect of the individual. Great
emphasis is put on homely sur-
roundings, and environment and
to create pleasant and encourag-
ing place of work for the staff. ■
10