Issues of Older People

Framsókn welcomes the fact that, in line with Framsókn's policy, the government has undertaken a comprehensive review of services for older people as was done in the project “Aging Well”.

Health Promotion and Prevention

The nation is aging and Framsókn wants emphasis to be placed on prevention and health promotion for older people to contribute to health and well-being, in addition to ensuring the integration of different aspects of services. The key is increased cooperation within the system.

Framsókn also wants emphasis to be placed on increased social support and screenings with the aim of having tools to combat loneliness, social isolation, anxiety, depression, and age-related prejudices.

Framsókn considers it urgent to support diverse and versatile rehabilitation for the elderly. Framsókn stands wholeheartedly behind Health Promoting Community – All Life.

Older people are a value, not a burden, and Framsókn believes that the aging of the nation's citizens represents an opportunity because it should be good to grow old in Iceland.

Framsókn wants to enhance prevention on a wide range for older people and increase awareness of the importance of exercise, sleep, nutrition, and social participation.

Activity

Framsókn wants older people to have good access to seek activity regardless of residence. It is important to encourage awareness of what activities are available to older people. Active participation in social activities enriches the day and can contribute to better mental, physical, and social health.

Framsókn wants to encourage municipalities to cooperate with associations of older people and sports clubs in each area to support diverse social activities and health promotion.

Employment

Framsókn wants older people to be able to work as long as health allows, regardless of age. There is great wealth in older people, experience, and knowledge that is important.

Framsókn welcomes steps by the Minister of Health to ensure legal exemption from the general rule of 70-year retirement for healthcare workers.

Framsókn also wants to abolish the rule that public employees as a whole must retire at the age of 70. Those who want to remain active in the labor market should have the option if both employees and employers wish so.

Pension Security and Pension Matters

Framsókn wants emphasis to be placed on correcting the share of older people who are in the lowest income deciles. Framsókn wants to meet those most in need and looks especially at housing issues, as most of those who live on low incomes live in heavily mortgaged housing or pay high rent. Possibilities of shared loans for older people need to be explored. Among the elderly are individuals who have low incomes and struggle to make ends meet, and Framsókn believes this needs to be addressed.

Framsókn wants the general tax-free allowance to be increased as it benefits those with the lowest income. The general tax-free allowance has been unchanged for a long time, thus increasing the tax burden on pensioners. The general tax-free allowance must follow the price development.

Framsókn wants pension payments to increase in line with the lowest wages.

Integrated Home Services

Framsókn emphasizes that good cooperation exists between the welfare system, the healthcare system, older people’s associations, and the national federation of senior citizens when it comes to home services and home nursing. By doing so, continuous and personalized services can be ensured, “grey areas” in services can be eradicated, and older people can have the option to live at home as long as possible, according to their wishes and health. This way they can maintain their independence, dignity, and respect.

Framsókn considers it important to continue to ensure the modernization of services and access to them through increased use of welfare technology, electronic services, remote services, and information portals. In the technological advancement, those who have not yet managed to embrace information technology need to be assisted. Framsókn reiterates the importance of ensuring equal access regardless of residence to home services and home nursing.

Day Care and Residential Homes

Framsókn wants older people to have easy access to a variety of services in day care spaces when individual needs call for such services, whether it is social and recreational activities in day solutions or more specialized services such as in respite admission in residence.

Framsókn emphasizes the need to fully utilize the existing housing with institutions that are in operation before new housing is built.

Nursing Homes

Framsókn emphasizes that the number of nursing units available in each health district reflects the area's need for the units and that the waiting time for a unit is within reasonable limits.

Framsókn considers it sensible to adopt a new arrangement for the construction of nursing homes in light of the delays that have occurred in numerous construction projects and to accelerate the pace of building new units in line with demand.

Framsókn wants continued emphasis on meeting the increasing nursing needs of residents in nursing homes and ensuring good individualized services.