Lilleström Municipality faces a proposed budget cut that would nearly halve culture, activity, and volunteer services across its seven long-term care nursing homes, Nettavisen reported.
The reduction targets the municipal KAF function, which stands for culture, activity, and volunteerism. The plan outlines a reduction of 1.6 full-time equivalents from the current 3.6 positions dedicated to organizing these programs, according to Nettavisen.
Morten Rudningen told Nettavisen that he felt angry and sad upon hearing about the proposed cuts. His wife has lived at Sørvald care and treatment center for nearly three years, where she uses a wheelchair and relies on daily activities as a vital bright spot.
Hilde Mikkelsen told Nettavisen that music programs help her mother access song lyrics even as her conversational speech fades. Georg Mikkelsen told Nettavisen that removing these organized events would reduce nursing homes to mere storage facilities with zero joy left for residents.
He added that the concerts are vital for residents who receive fewer visits from relatives, noting, It is not everyone who can participate and dance, but you see that something happens to the people.
Volunteers logged 1,810 hours at the Sørvald facility over an eight-month period last year, amounting to roughly one full-time position every week, volunteer Heidi Aurland told Nettavisen. Aurland told Nettavisen that regular nursing staff cannot absorb these organizing duties alongside daily medical care.
Jana Hoffmann, a chief union representative for the Norwegian Nursing Association in Lilleström, told Nettavisen that the cuts are unrealistic because care staff will always prioritize basic meals, hygiene, and medical follow-up. Hoffmann stated, The measure gives the residents a more meaningful everyday life, and contributes to our members doing a good job.
The activities, which include café gatherings and concerts, provide a critical space for relatives to connect and share experiences. Georg Mikkelsen noted that the programs have fostered a community among families, helping them manage the challenges of long-term care. Activities at the nursing home have become a major part of the time families spend together, offering a reprieve from the daily strain of caregiving.
Lilleström Mayor Kjartan Berland told Nettavisen that he understands how much the activity programs mean to affected families. The municipal council is scheduled to vote on the final budget on December 9, Berland told Nettavisen.
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