What rights do I as an elder have if I wish to move to another municipality?
This article is translated with AI and is based on Swedish conditions. Hopefully, it can inspire interested parties from other countries.
More and more people have their relatives living in another part of the country. The distance can mean that it is difficult to maintain contact and provide good support in everyday life. It is important that the move is based on the elder's wish, not the relative's guilt.
Foto-Michael-Erhardsson-Mostphotos-webbSeeking elderly care in another municipality - what applies?
In many families, the elderly and their relatives end up in different parts of the country. For the elderly, it can become lonely and it can be nice to have an adult child who visits regularly, helps with paying bills, clothing purchases and other things. It can also be practical when the relatives are in the neighboring municipality.
Anyone who wants to apply for elderly care in another municipality begins by turning to the assistance officer in their home municipality. They will then make an assessment of the right to elderly care. The assistance officer comes to your home to carry out an investigation. If you are hospitalized, the investigation can begin at the hospital. After you have received a decision that you are entitled to special accommodation, you send it to the municipality where you wish to live. That municipality is obliged to process the application in the same way as if the person applying lived in that municipality.
Some tips along the way when it comes to choosing elderly care:
1. Start early. ...
2. Get help from relatives. ...
3. Think about what you are asking for. ...
4. Find out which elderly homes on paper match your wishes.
5. Ask people in your environment for recommendations. ...
6. Take part in quality assessments and read more about how to find and interpret these.
The one who has the greatest need for care should be given priority to care. The Social Services Act gives you the right to assistance in the form of home care, housing in a so-called elderly care, in the law it is called special accommodation, or other help and support that you may need and that you cannot get in any other way.
An important aspect to consider when it comes to moving to another municipality may be "pressure" from relatives that can be about a "bad conscience" It must be the elderly's needs and wishes that govern. It is important that the elderly person is not a passive participant but is involved in this decision and has control over the situation. For some elderly, it may indeed be a major adjustment and change to move, which many times can be about cognitive vulnerability or mental problems.
Decisions about "Special accommodation" as it is formally called are based on social needs. However, it is not uncommon for the assistance officer to want medical information from a doctor, nurse, occupational therapist or physiotherapist to assess the needs. The assistance investigation should be carried out on the same grounds as if you are seeking elderly care in your home municipality, but it may be beneficial to mention that you intend to seek elderly care in another municipality.
Some municipalities have more generous rules, for example, for those who have turned 90. Then there may be the opportunity to move to elderly care without having a decision on assistance.
Reflection questions - move to another municipality
Care staff:
- Do you have residents who have moved in from another municipality?
- Are there residents who do not get visits so often because their relatives live far away?
Manager, nurse, occupational therapist and physiotherapist:
- Do you ever get questions about moving to another residence from relatives or residents?
- Do you get inquiries from people living in other municipalities who are interested in moving to you?
Residents and relatives:
- Were you aware of these rights?
Erland Olsson
Specialist nurse
Sofrosyne - Better care every day
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