Innovation in elderly care will be created at the old Sólvang

The Ministry of Health and the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður have entered into an agreement for the renovation of the former Sólvang building, which will establish a new type of specialised service for the elderly. The building will provide short-term and respite care for 39 people, where they will receive light rehabilitation and an assessment of their further support needs. It is anticipated that at least 250 people will receive this service annually. The aim is to enhance people's ability to live at home for longer. In addition, a new nursing ward will be opened in the building with facilities for 11 individuals. The Ministry of Health will provide the City of Hafnarfjörður with 120 million króna for the project.

Reduced need for A&E services and hospital admissions

One of the main aims of the service is to implement preventative measures that can reduce the likelihood of serious health deterioration requiring A&E services or leading to an untimely hospital admission. The service is therefore intended to relieve pressure on the National University Hospital, increase support for the carers of elderly people who are often under great strain, and, last but not least, to improve the quality of life for the elderly people who use the service and enable them to live at home for longer than would otherwise be possible.

The Minister of Health and the Mayor of Hafnarfjörður signed the agreement in the presence of representatives from the project board of the nursing home, staff from the Ministry of Health and staff from the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður.

Synergistic effects with the operation of the Sólvang nursing home

It is anticipated that the Sólvangur premises will be ready for the service to begin operations by the end of the year, and Sjúkratryggingar Íslands will be tasked with tendering for the operation. The intention is for the service to be run in conjunction with the Sólvang nursing home, allowing various facilities to be shared for the benefit of the users. An emphasis will be placed on collaboration with health-promoting reception services at health centres and other services provided by health centres for the elderly.

Svandís Svavarsdóttir: „It is fantastic that this project has reached the implementation stage. We need a much more diverse range of services to meet the needs of the elderly than has been the case, and we need much greater innovation in this area. This project is part of that thinking, just as was the aim in establishing Health-promoting receptions at health centres and with a recent agreement with the City of Reykjavík regarding Establishment of a geriatric team which provides specialised home care for the elderly.“

Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, Mayor of Hafnarfjörður, celebrates this welcome milestone in the service for older people in the municipality: „We have prioritised innovation in services with a focus on the health promotion of older people. This is a new approach to supporting older people's residential care in their own homes, which aims to improve the quality of life and health of older people and enable people to live at home for as long as possible.“

Sólvangur will take on a new and renewed role, becoming a service centre for the elderly in the municipality, as has long been the aim. „It is very pleasing to continue the development of elderly care services at this location. The Municipality of Hafnarfjörður has emphasised preventative support for older citizens through targeted health promotion, and this new project at Sólvangur fits very well with the municipality's priorities,“ says Rósa.

Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, Mayor, and Svandís Svavarsdóttir, Minister of Health

Gamli Sólvangur Centre for Elderly Care Services 

Hafnarfjörður already runs a day care for the elderly on the first floor of the old Sólvangur. These are general areas, as well as specialised areas for individuals with dementia, which were recently increased by 12. When the alterations to the building are complete, a new nursing ward for 11 individuals is scheduled to open on the 2nd floor. The 3rd and 4th floors will provide facilities for individuals receiving service and rehabilitation in short-term and respite stays, with capacity for 39 people at any one time.

Thórunn Sveinbjörnsdóttir, chairwoman of the Federation of Older People, congratulated the mayor and the Minister of Health on the agreement.