Reija Heinola

National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland

Support for informal care - shared responsibility between local municipalities and informal carers

Support for Informal Care in Finland

• Statutory social service (The Act on Support for Informal Care 937/2005)• Can be granted if a person needs care at home because of reduced

capability, illness or disability• Consists of

• Necessary services to support care recipient and caregiver• Care allowance and 3 days leave/month for caregiver

• Commission agreement is made between care giver and the municipality (not employment)

• Minimum fee from the 1st of January 2010 is – 347,41 euro/month – 694,83 euro/month during transitional period when heavy caring is

needed• Number of 65+ care receivers 23 474 (2009)

Service Structure for Older People 1995-2009

Clients % 75+ 1995 2001 2005 2008 2009

Targets of National Framework by 2012

Regular home care 13,8 12,1 11,5 11,2 11,4 13-14

Support for informal care

2,7 3,2 3,7 4,1 4,1 5-6

Sheltered housing with 24-hour assistance

- 2,2 3,4 4,6 5,1 5-6

Residential home 6,5 5,1 4,3 3,8 3,5

3

Long-term care at health centre wards

3,7 3,0 2,5 2,1

Allocating statutory support for families caring for close relatives

Research question:Are there some distinguishing characteristics in life situations and needs of older persons applying for support for informal care, compared to those applying for other services?

Data:- a sample of older persons (N= 502), living in Southern Finland (Helsinki and Vantaa), who applied for social services in 2008-2009- those who expressed their need for support for informal care (N=181)- all were assessed using Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI), accompanied by questions about psycho-social circumstances and capabilities in home environment

Source: Anni Vilkko & Reija Heinola & Harriet Finne-Soveri & Maarit Rautio & Tarja Helameri & Arja PeiponenThe National Institute for Health and Welfare and The City of Helsinki

Allocating statutory support for families caring forclose relatives

Profile:• A great majority were married and received care from their

spouses (70 %)• Sex distribution was significantly more even, compared to

those applying for other services who were predominantly women

• They had a more sustainable socio-economic situation• Their ability in almost all IADL activities and ADL activities

were substantially lower than in the other group • Their cognitive disability was an essential reason for applying

for support for family care (compared to other group)• The burden of caring was evident in 28 % of caregiversSource: Anni Vilkko & Reija Heinola & Harriet Finne-Soveri & Maarit Rautio & Tarja Helameri & Arja Peiponen

The National Institute for Health and Welfare and The City of Helsinki

Allocating statutory support for families caring for close relatives

Services:• A great majority (72 %) of the family carers, applying for support for informal care, entered into a care contract and received caregiver’s fee• The families were given substantially less support services at home than those who did not apply for informal care support Source: Anni Vilkko & Reija Heinola & Harriet Finne-Soveri & Maarit Rautio & Tarja Helameri & Arja PeiponenThe National Institute for Health and Welfare and The City of Helsinki

Allocating statutory support for families caring forclose relatives

Discussion:• A more sustainable socio-economic situation and marital

status were empowering and safety creating resources for the care receivers

• However, the burden of caring was evident in 28 % of caregivers (e. g. compared to those about 12 % getting regular home care, RAI home care –data 2009)

• We have a good reason to ask whether official system for support has recognized well enough the needs of family carers in actual care situations as well as their needs for preventive support?

Source: Anni Vilkko & Reija Heinola & Harriet Finne-Soveri & Maarit Rautio & Tarja Helameri & Arja PeiponenThe National Institute for Health and Welfare and The City of Helsinki