Care of the elderly in Sweden
Fact sheet 2007.028
| Publication date: | September 2007 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Information material |
| Source: | Ministry of Health and Social Affairs |
Summary
In Sweden, policy for the elderly aims at enabling older people to live independently with a high quality of life. Older people in need of health care and social care are entitled to help of high quality. Elderly care is provided in accordance with democratic principles and is mainly financed from tax revenue.
The Riksdag (the Swedish Parliament) has defined the following objectives for national policy for the elderly.
Older people are to:
be able to lead active lives and have influence on
society and their own everyday lives;
be able to grow old in security and retain their
independence;
be treated with respect; and
have access to good health and social care services
One of the most important principles of Swedish policy for the elderly is that public action is to be framed in such a way that older people can continue living in their own homes for as long as possible, even when in need of extensive health care and social care. An accessible society, good housing, transport services and home-help services are examples of important action to realise this principle.
