Pressure will be reduced on family members – whether on spouses or children.

Ásgerður K. Gylfadóttir, Member of Parliament for Framsókn in the South constituency, says that effective home nursing, social home services and day care facilities are solutions that meet the needs of individuals who, due to chronic illness or ageing, require support. It also relieves pressure on family members, whether on the spouse or children of the person concerned. This was revealed in a special discussion on women's disability and care pressures in Parliament yesterday.

"The wait for residential facilities can be very difficult and take a heavy toll on families and even distant relatives of individuals who have no one else," said Ásgerður.

"Increased funding is needed for home nursing and it was mentioned by the minister that work was underway in this regard. But I would like to draw attention to home nursing in rural areas where distances are long because the funding, as the system is set up today, is somewhat based on the number of visits rather than the long distances traveled to a single individual."

"Home services, day care, nursing spaces and the implementation of welfare technology in home services are being strengthened. These are all measures that will relieve the pressure on those caregivers who are doing these jobs today, but we must not forget prevention.

Physical activity and strength training, especially in later years, is a preventive measure that the state should decisively collaborate on with the municipalities. It is an investment that will reduce the need for healthcare in the long term.

It is also a preventative measure for us who are younger to make sure we exercise and take good care of ourselves so that it takes longer for our children or relatives to have to start taking care of us," said Ásgerður.