Home-based rehabilitation makes a difference for the elderly in Sønderborg

Sønderborg Municipality is one of more than 40 municipalities that train social and healthcare assistants to help elderly people regain their independence in their own homes. They do this in collaboration with the company Digi Rehab.

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> When we can save a little time for you, someone else benefits from it.

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> Stefan Lydal, Chairman of the Social-, Senior- and Disability Committee in Sønderborg Municipality

The specially trained social and healthcare assistants screen the resident, and then a customized rehabilitation program is created, tailored to the elderly person's personal needs and wishes. In 12 weeks, the resident receives two weekly visits from a trainer, and when the weeks are over, the resident should, in principle, be able to perform the training themselves.

The project has been running in the municipality since September 2024, and they have now made an early evaluation of the project, which shows that 88% of the 60 elderly people who have been part of the training program have improved their functional ability (https://dagsordener.sonderborgkommune.dk/vis?id=44a95415-af26-445c-8b23-288beba1953a&punktid=795f3bbf-dd67-4ba5-b567-f65ba309ea46%C2%A0 ).

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No longer needing home care

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Previously a mason and now a pensioner, Niels Lund Christiansen, aged 89, is one of the residents who, together with a social and healthcare assistant, trains twice a week in his home in Blans in Southern Jutland. After falling a few times, he needed rehabilitation, and he therefore received a home trainer.

- I can feel that I am getting better at everything possible, and my mood is also improving, he says.

With home rehabilitation, the elderly no longer have to travel to rehabilitation, and at the same time, they are assured of individual help and support to complete their exercises. (Photo: © Bo Bechsgaard, DR)

For Niels Lund Christiansen, rehabilitation has meant that he no longer has the same need for help as he had before the program started.

- I obviously get help with cleaning the floor every 14 days, but that is also the only home care I get. The rest I manage myself.

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Anxious about the time after the program

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What is particularly important to Charlotte Vork Nielsen, who is Niels Lund Christiansen's trainer, when she trains the residents, is that they can manage basic tasks in their home.

- Some people have not been able to stand at a kitchen counter and prepare their own food, because their balance may be poor, or their strength is not sufficient, and that is what we train.

Charlotte Vork Nielsen oversees the training program, so she is sure that Niels Lund Christiansen receives the training he needs. (Photo: © Bo Bechsgaard, DR)

In 12 weeks, Niels Lund Christiansen has been part of the program, but has been granted 12 more weeks with a weekly training session with Charlotte Vork Nielsen.

But when the 12 weeks are also over, it is he himself who must ensure that he completes his training, and he is nervous about it.

- I doubt that I myself can take care of myself to say: "Now it's time". It doesn't give the same feeling when 'Lotte' is not here.

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The help is targeted

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Stefan Lydal (DF), who is the Chairman of the Social-, Senior- and Disability Committee in Sønderborg Municipality, is enthusiastic about the project and its preliminary results.

- It gives a special motivation to the elderly when it takes its starting point in the individual's needs and wishes. It makes them complete the program.

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> I can feel that I am getting better at everything possible, and my mood is also improving.

> Pensioner, Niels Lund Christiansen

According to Digi Rehab, Sønderborg Municipality can save around six million kroner a year because the elderly will have less need for help at home.

However, it does not mean that there will be fewer home care workers in the municipality, says Stefan Lydal. Instead, home care hours will be used for those who have the most need for help.

- When we can save a little time for you, someone else benefits from it.

So far, Sønderborg Municipality's trial with Digi Rehab runs until 2026.

Warning: This article was translated by a Large Language Model, in case of doubt, you can always visit the original source.