Minister of Welfare Guðbjartur Hannesson and Mayor Daníel Jakobsson today signed an agreement for the construction of a 30-room nursing home in Ísafjörður. An agreement was also signed on a collaborative project in geriatric care in the region, with emphasis
There is no nursing home in Ísafjörður, but the Vestfjörður Health Institute in Ísafjörður has a geriatrics department that takes care of chronically ill patients. At the government meeting held in Ísafjörður last April 5, it was agreed to seek cooperation with the town association on the construction and operation of a 30-room nursing home that would be financed through the so-called rental method. Locals take care of the design and construction of the home, the municipality is guaranteed the financing of the construction with a loan from the Housing Fund, while the Elderly Development Fund pays the municipality rent for 40 years, amounting to 85% installments of the loan. Estimated payments from the Implementation Fund are 60 million ISK per year. The new nursing home will replace the services for nursing patients that have been provided at the Health Institute until now. Minister of Welfare Guðbjartur Hannesson says it is obvious that the construction of a nursing home will completely change all facilities for the elderly in the area and others who cannot live in their own homes due to their health: ?It will be built according to the Ministry of Welfare's criteria for the organization of nursing homes, where the emphasis is placed on domestic conditions where Certain requirements are set for external and internal layout, dimensions of spaces, accessibility issues and equipment in accordance with what is best to serve the needs of residents, relatives and staff.?
Collaborative Project on Aging Services
In addition to the nursing home agreement, an agreement was signed today on a collaborative project in the field of elderly care in Ísafjarðarbær, with a special focus on improving conditions in Flateyri. The project is part of an agreement from the government's meeting in Ísafjörður last spring.
The parties to the agreement are Ísafjarðarbær, the Vestfjörður Health Institute and the Ministry of Welfare. The agreement is based on a joint proposal by the town and the health institute and includes renovations to housing, a studio and a bathroom in Félagsbær á Flateyri and the purchase of equipment and a car from the health institute.
The government allocates 20.0 m.kr. to the project, but its implementation is in the hands of local people.
Thröstur Óskarsson, Director of the Vestfjörður Health Institute, Guðbjartur Hannesson, Minister of Welfare, Daníel Jakobsson, Mayor of Ísafjarðarbær, and Eiríkur Finnur Greipsson, Chairman of the Ísafjörður Town Council and the committee for the construction of a nursing home in Ísafjörður, signed an agreement on a collaborative project on elderly care.
(taken from the website of the Ministry of Welfare)
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