Abstract
The municipality of Húnaþing vestra is located in Northern Iceland. It has a total population of 1,258. The proportion of elderly people is above the average in Iceland, at 21%. Húnaþing vestra is one of 22 municipalities in Iceland participating in the development project “Good to grow older” in Iceland, which runs from 2023-2027.
The largest pillar in the development project “Good to grow older” is integrated home services under unified manpower and financial management. The home services for the elderly residents of the municipality of Húnaþing vestra will be provided from a single source, including social home support, home nursing, home rehabilitation, and day care for elderly. There are opportunities in implementing welfare technology and telehealth services in this region. The WHODAS tool is being introduced to provide a comprehensive and standardized assessment of the need for home services in the area.
The goal of integrating services in the municipality of Húnaþing vestra is to provide holistic and efficient services for the elderly residents, ensuring cost-effective and responsible use of resources and manpower. It aims to formalize the collaboration between social and health services in the area, and to offer evening and weekend services. By increasing continuity in services, it is possible to improve the well-being and health of the elderly, reduce hospital admissions and readmissions, and prevent or delay the need for nursing home placement. It is crucial that residents receive the right services from the right provider at the right time.
Preparation for integrated home services began in the fall of 2023, and the home services were formally integrated on January 1, 2025, managed from the Health Institution of West Iceland (HVE), now under unified manpower and financial management. The preparation for integrated home services included support and guidance for implementation and follow-up from the ministries responsible for the “Good to grow older” action plan.
Emphasis has been placed on the involvement of the elderly in the community, including vision workshops to better meet the wishes and needs of the elderly residents. Information meetings about the project have been held with residents, staff, and elected political representatives. A significant advantage and strength is that the collaboration between the social and health services in the area has been good for many years, which has been beneficial in the transition process. The preparation also included various changes such as application processes, housing, employment contracts, and more.
The main challenges have been the different approaches and understandings among staff, relatives, service recipients, and administration. It has been crucial to get everyone on board. Many things need to be rethought to break down barriers and build a new system, such as rules and fee schedules, a new assessment system, and service organization.
Today elderly residents access services in one location and receive targeted, continuous home services based on professional assessment, with a real choice to stay at home as long as possible, prioritizing flexibility and safety, as well as specialization, development, and strong connections to other essential services.