The Geriatric Resource centre
– a part of Aker arena for collaboration of
health services to elderly citizens of Oslo
Sykehjemsetaten
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
Public
People with dementia and cognitive impairment,
their spouses, children, grandchildren and friends
Decision makers
Politicians, 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, 2009
location
budget
staff and user needs analysis
plan for implementation
Main challenge: to convince the City of Oslo
2010: YES, to be part of GER
2011: 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 service
1,5 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
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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
What to find in Almas hus
Dementia friendly design
Universal design
Smart house technology
Current welfare technology
Products from many different suppliers
Simulation of real life problems
Individual approach and demonstrations
Safety and security with
welfare technology
• Alerts and alarms on incidents
• Cabled systems
• Wireless systems
Technology for mastering, security and well-being
• Communication
• Memory aids
• Time orientation aids
• Activity and well-being
• Safety and security
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
Certification
Courses
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
Alma’s house ...... a knowledge service
• National network for an environment adapted to its residents
needs
• Arena for dialogue and development of technology
• User participation and involvement
• Participation in research
Administration today
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A part of GER
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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!