For the elderly, a clear service system and easy accessibility to services are the factors that best support living at home independently. User-driven service models in the services for the elderly (KÄPI) is a project piloting new kind of care management and so-called personal budgeting in collaboration with the Department of Social Services and Health Care of the City of Helsinki. The project continues in the areas of Kallio and Alppila by experimenting and developing the model that begun in Lauttasaari area.
Elderly people’s needs and wishes as starting point
Care management means planning, organizing and assessing the services best suited to the person’s life situation. In KÄPI Project, care management is done more comprehensively than is currently the practice. It maps out also the needs that can be met with services other than those normally offered by the city. One of the goals is to advocate the elderly people’s freedom of choice and for the elderly people, supported by the care manager, to get the needed services and support in a way that is sensible to them.
“The starting point is that the elderly person examines his or her daily life and the need for support and assistance using the so-called probe model. In this, he or she will be supported by the care manager, an experienced professional of the care of the elderly”, Project Manager Sari Luostarinen summarizes.
If the care manager and customer together note that there is a need to redirect the current services, the care manager will help in collecting the new service package. In this, personal budgeting is used as a tool, i.e. in practice the sum of money that is already used for the person’s current services.
“As care manager I have an important role in getting the elderly people to try out boldly the new possibilities and operating methods. Ultimately, the goal is the good life of the elderly, supported by such pillars as ability to operate and social networks”, care manager Sari Koho says.
Target area Kallio-Alppila
In the autumn of 2013, the informal carers and home care customers of the Kallio-Alppila area are approached by letter to find out if they are interested in participating in the experiment of care management and personal budgeting. Participation is completely voluntary, but as many elderly as possible are hoped to get interested in the opportunity to influence more than before the services they get.
In addition, the second part of the project starts in the autumn, mapping out the expectations and wishes of services of the elderly who have not yet needed public services to support their living at home. This is carried out in the Kallio-Alppila area mainly through interviews.
Versatile group of actors involved
In addition to services offered by the City of Helsinki, the possibility of other parties to be involved in improving the daily life of the elderly is examined; such parties could be businesses and volunteer organizations.
Together with those offering the services we examine what could be their role in building an optimized service entity. In addition, the private and third sector actors are encouraged to market their services, to network together and to collaborate with the public sector.
The project is carried out in collaboration with the Department of Social Services and Health Care of the City of Helsinki in the autumn of 2013 and spring of 2014. Arja Peiponen, director of the southern service area, is responsible for the project for the City of Helsinki.
More information:
Project Manager Sari Luostarinen
Forum Virium Helsinki
tel. +358 40 560 3326
sari.luostarinen(at)forumvirium.fi
Project Co-ordinator Annukka Rautopuro,
Forum Virium Helsinki
tel. +358 40 662 5661
annukka.rautopuro(at)forumvirium.fi
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