Elderly care was the topic of the “Debate” on Thursday, following the revelations in the NRK Brennpunkt documentary “Care” behind closed doors earlier this week.
Elderly care in several places in Norway was investigated with the help of a hidden camera.
Since then, the debate about care for the elderly in the country has raged, and in retrospect Health Minister Ingvild Kjerkol has said that people must do more to plan for their own old age.
– Terribly expensive
That was the reaction of author and former Minister of Justice Anne Holt when she met Kjerkol during “The Debate”.
– Taking responsibility for one’s own old age is very good advice, for those who can, said Anne Holt.
– But the key word here is able to. Because it is terribly expensive, she continued.
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– It is a betrayal
Holt believes the findings in elderly care are a betrayal of the social democratic model.
– We live in a social democratic welfare society. Regardless of whether the prime minister’s name is Solberg or Støre. We agree that we should take care of each other. And the contract is: Work properly, behave reasonably well and the collective will pick you up if you fall, said Holt.
And added:
– But these reports, and many people’s own experiences show that we no longer pick up those who fall. And it is a betrayal. I understand that provokes a lot of people.
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Holt clarified that the problems in elderly care are not a new crisis.
– It is not your fault that it looks like this, but you are the one who has been elected right now, and therefore it is your responsibility, Holt said to Kjerkol.
– FLere can be the boss in his own life
Health Minister Ingvild Kjerkol (Ap) responded to the criticism by saying that the government is working to create an arrangement where more elderly people are given the opportunity to choose where they will live.
– We will present a reform for the elderly this spring, where we will, among other things, look at housing and a housing program for the elderly under the Husbanken’s instruments. So that more people can be the boss in their own lives and be able to invest in housing, said Kjerkol.
– I would like to repeat that it is professionals who make up services. They are the ones who provide the healthcare and we must ensure that we have access to this important resource. Those who need a place in a nursing home will get it, said the Minister of Health.
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– Interpreted me in the worst sense
Kjerkol clarified what she meant by the statement she made on “Political Quarter” earlier this week, about taking responsibility for her own old age.
– Do you see that one can react to it, when the failure is in the public sector, asked presenter Fredrik Solvang.
– I also said a lot of other things in “Political quarter”, answered Kjerkol.
And added:
– I feel that someone has interpreted me in the worst sense, and I apologize for that. I have to put that on my coat, I have to communicate clearly and clearly, and reassure.
– And I understand that people like Lise Fjeldstad and others have been frightened and worried. And that they don’t think I showed enough understanding and warmth in that broadcast, she said.
– Solberg said exactly the same thing
Program leader Fredrik Solvang then turned to Tone Wilhelmsen Trøen, parliamentary representative in the Conservative Party.
– It is very unfair if all the blame were to fall on Kjerkol, because Erna Solberg said exactly the same thing a few months ago. And this has been embodied in plan after plan, and perspective report after perspective report.
– Precisely that we have to take more responsibility for our own old age, said Solvang.
Trøen responded by highlighting the challenges of the elderly wave.
– We know that the number of elderly people is increasing greatly. It is basically good that we live longer. But we know that the older we get, the more health challenges we face.
– Therefore we must do both, we must ensure that each one of us also continues to take responsibility, also for our own old age. But it is not our responsibility alone. I also believe that the municipalities have a lot of responsibility, she said.
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