Sykehjemsetaten

The Geriatric Resource centre– a part of Aker arena for collaboration of health services to elderly citizens of Oslo

The Geriatric Resource Centre

Our objective:

To strengthen geriatric services in the City of

Oslo

Our Focus:

• Gerontology, geriatrics, mental health for the

elderly and dementia

• Almas hus – centre for welfare technology

The Geriatric Resource centre

• Better services to user/patient

• Strengthen geriatrics as a discipline

• Strengthen work on health promotion and

prevention

• Strengthen the interaction between primary

health care and specialist health care services

• Increase use of welfare technology

Target groups

Health care staff

In home care services, nursing homes,

hospitals

PublicPeople with dementia and cognitive impairment, their spouses, children, grandchildren and friends

Decision makersPoliticians, municipal doctors, architects, hospital constructors

Main tasks

• Develop competence

• Councelling

• Information

Almas hus:A dynamic centre for ”welfare technology”

Background

In Norway, 70.000 people have dementia

The number is expected to double by 2040

City of Oslo: 7.000 people with dementia

Lack of information and access to technology for people with dementia

(Aketun, Grut, Holthe & Bjørneby 2010; Holthe, 2011)

The idea behind ALMA :

– «See and touch» aids, products and technology in a natural, home-like environment

– A show room run by trained personnel: The ALMA-team

A knowledge service• Arena for demonstrations and training for 3

target groups• Networking for professionals in Oslo • National network for environments adapted to

older persons needs• Arena for dialogue/development of technology• User participation and involvement• Web-site with ”What can be of help?”• Participation in research

Brief history of Almas hus 2008-2012

After visiting a centre at University of Stirling in 2008

GERIA saw the need and started a pre-project, 2009locationbudgetstaff and user needs analysisplan for implementation

Main challenge: to convince the City of Oslo2010: YES, to be part of GER2011: Location in Aker sykehus, building 21.2012: Official opening

Physical planning

Architect was specialist in universal design

Rebuilding the 100 year old house for GER and Alma

-responsible leader of building maintenance at Aker

-carpenter, plumber, electrician, painter, lighting designer

+ two Almas hus representatives for quality assurance

Design criteria for PWD: Materials, colours, lamps, ++++

”Dementia friendly” design

Factors in the physical surroundings that hinder or promote the function and the well being of people with cognitive impairments or dementia

Colours and contrasts Labels and signs Lighting Sight lines

Plan

Planning groups for professional activity and service1,5 occupational therapist + 10% from NKAH

1 nurse and leader of GERIA

Service design company

Group of local Ots

The planning is based on the needs of users with dementia and their families

Choosing products and suppliers, legal issues

Differentiating between different target groups

The public

Implications for service• Method to develop empirical

knowledge• Collect real life scenarios• Analyze problems, needs, resources, • Estimate possible interventions • Elaborate solutions, provide advice

material, test solutions• Learn from experience, and share

with others

Dementia friendly designUniversal designSmart house technologyCurrent welfare technologyProducts from many different suppliersSimulation of real life problemsIndividual approach and demonstrations

What to find in Almas hus

Safety and security with welfare technology• Alerts and alarms on incidents

• Cabled systems• Wireless systems

• Communication

• Memory aids

• Time orientation aids

• Activity and well-being

• Safety and security

Technology for mastering, security and well-being

We help decicion-makers in their planning

We train health personnel

Vi Warm hands vs. cold technology?

We wish to train health personnel to include technology in care

Brief courses

Advanced courses

CertificationCourses

Alma supervisors, occupational therapists or dementia coordinators

conduct home visits to clients

The Districts’ of Oslo Alma supervisors is one important target group:

Know how the client live/behave at home

Can follow up during the trajectory of the illness

• National network for an environment adapted to its residents needs

• Arena for dialogue and development of technology

• User participation and involvement

• Participation in research

Alma’s house ...... a knowledge service

Administration today

• A part of GER

• The city of Oslo rents the location from Oslo

University Hospital. Cost is a percentage of the

rebuilding cost over 10 years

• GER has a total of 25 employees

• Of these 2 Ots, 1 PT and 1 nurse also work in Almas

hus, total 120 % position

• Products and systems are gifts, borrowed or bought

Good luck with Almas house Poland!