Many older adults living at home have health needs that can be difficult to detect early. Researchers at the University of Stavanger are developing a tool to help municipalities better assess these needs.
The Research Council of Norway has allocated a total of 150 million NOK for research and innovation in municipal health and care services.
The University of Stavanger has been awarded 16 million NOK for a four-year research project led by Professor Marianne Storm from the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Needs Assessment and Interventions
As part of the project, healthcare professionals will conduct an interdisciplinary assessment of the health and care service needs among older adults living at home in Stavanger and Sandnes. The researchers will also examine the effects this assessment on the participants’ quality of life, their use of healthcare services, and their stays in nursing homes and hospitals.
– Simple and effective assessment tools provide structure to the health evaluation of older adults living at home, ensure that needs are not overlooked, and allow for monitoring changes over time. They also give healthcare professionals a natural way to discuss important health-related topics, says Storm
To participate in the project, individuals must be over the age of 65 and apply to their municipality for services such as emergency alarms, walkers, or access to day centers.
Regional Collaboration
The project has been developed in close collaboration with with the municipalities of Stavanger and Sandnes, as well as the South Rogaland Cluster Collaboration on Health and Welfare Research.
Sandnes Municipality recognizes significant benefits in participating, as it will enable earlier identification of needs and the implementation of interventions to help older adults stay in their homes for as long as possible.
– To address future challenges in the healthcare sector, services must be organized differently than they are today. By conducting systematic, multidisciplinary health needs assessments for older adults living at home in our municipality, we believe we can achieve this, says Ine H. Lunde, Head of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Services in Sandnes Municipality.
Municipalities rely on a solid knowledge base to make informed decisions. The results of this research will provide them with valuable insights for the continued development of health and care services.
– We are delighted that funding has been granted for this project, and we look forward to continued collaboration, says Solveig Sundt, Head of the South Rogaland Cluster Collaboration on Health and Welfare Research.
– We are now seeing tangible results from the collaboration between municipalities and academia to strengthen research activities that are both relevant and beneficial for the municipalities, she adds.
The project will begin in the summer of 2025, and a postdoctoral fellow and a Ph.D. candidate will be hired to work closely with the municipalities.