Vårdsystemdel

The care system study

There is an increasing older population which leads to higher demands on care for the elderly. It is therefore important to improve knowledge about care systems for senior citizens works. The intention of this study is to examine care consumption in four municipalities (Eslöv, Malmö, Osby and Ystad) in the Skåne region.

The purpose is to examine the distribution of care between the different municipalities and continuously observe the care consumption over time. All older people over the age of 65 years who receive long term care and who have given informed consent are included in the study. The Ethical Committee, Lund University has approved the study.

The data is collected in two stages:
In the first stage information is gathered from all participants who currently receive care from the municipalities involved and/or health care from Skåne region.

In the second stage continuous information is collected from all new care takers. Information about changes of those who already receive care is also collected when changes of the need and subsequent decision for care occur. Change in homecare and institutional care are collected on a regular basis with a six month interval. Lastly data is collected when the need of care stops.

Information concerning following areas is collected and documented by the personnel in the involved municipalities and/or Region Skåne:

Background information, e.g. gender, age and marital status
Assessment of functional performance, e.g. mobility and activities of daily living
Assessment of housing adaptation and accessibility
Received care and rehabilitation

Support and care carried out by relatives or others not from the formal sector

One example of the importance of the research is that it gives an overall view of care among senior citizens in each of the municipalities. Furthermore the variation in institutional care between the municipalities can be assessed. What impact does the difference in care have on senior citizens and their relatives? Research will provide a comparison between municipal care and acute health care regarding senior citizens. It will be possible to follow the individual old person’s pathway from hospital care to care provided in the municipality.

The persons responsible are:

Sölve Elmståhl, Principal investigator
Department of Health Sciences, University of Lund and Geriatric Research Centre, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö

Eva Nordell, coordinator
Department of Health Sciences, University of Lund and Geriatric Research Centre, Malmö