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The Crown Commission, which reviews Sweden’s efforts during the pandemic, declared on Tuesday that Sweden has failed in its strategy to protect the elderly.
Elderly researcher Marta Szebehely, emeritus professor of social work at Stockholm University, was behind the commission’s background report examining how covid-19 has been managed in nursing homes in different countries.
It is clear that Sweden stands out in the Nordic region.
– Norway, Denmark, Finland and also Germany were much more alert and saw elderly care before, and they have also managed to limit the infection. They have a much lower death rate both in and outside of elderly care, he says.
At the same time, Sweden’s failure is not unique.
– It is common in much of the world, caring for the elderly is not something that has been prioritized politically. The elderly have not had a particularly high status. Resources have been scarce, working conditions have deteriorated, and many are paid by the hour. It is rather our neighboring countries that are unique, they were better equipped than us, says Marta Szebehely.
Norway had guidelines on February 29
She points to a number of success factors in the rest of the Nordic region, such as early care for nursing homes, rapid tests, and requirements for protective equipment and quarantine. As early as February 29, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health published guidelines for pandemic control in nursing homes.
– Even before the pandemic was a fact, the authorities of our Nordic neighbors sent signals that care for the elderly should not be forgotten. In Norway, quarantine was introduced, which means that people who had been to, for example, Iran or Austria could not work in elderly care or medical care. In Denmark, the tests were earlier and more generous.
In Sweden, by contrast, the main focus was on equipping medical care and intensive care, despite the fact that the elderly were known to be most affected by the virus and that the most fragile groups in society live together in nursing homes. elderly, according to Szebehely.
– Sweden was delayed in all the dances, both in the tests, the protective equipment and to draw attention to the care of the elderly as a business that needs support. At the same time, the staff was under great pressure. Resources have long been reduced and many do not have the proper education. We have far fewer nurses than in Norway and far fewer directors than in Finland. All the points together weigh.
Who is responsible for the deficiencies?
– I say, like the Crown Commission, that the ultimate responsibility lies with this government and previous governments. We also have an organization in Sweden where the expert authorities must inform the government what to do. Not enough attention has been paid to caring for the elderly.
Sweden lacks a unit for the elderly
Marta Szebehely also believes that the organization of the National Board of Health and Welfare was important.
– The National Board of Health and Welfare has a greater responsibility for the care of the elderly than the Swedish Public Health Agency, and they no longer have a care unit for the elderly since the agency was reorganized in 2009. Our Nordic neighbors still they have a department for senior affairs in its equivalent to the National Board of Health and Welfare. It may have been important to raise issues of older people in the crisis management group.
Deficiencies in Swedish geriatric care have also been known for decades, according to Marta Szebehely. She believes that it is time for Sweden to act.
– Now is the time to improve the care of the elderly. It is also an important part of the infrastructure of society. We cannot allow people to be exhausted in caring for the elderly and then blamed for the people who die. The staff has done what has been possible, with the resources available.
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