Competence development for sustainable and effective care for older people in the Nordic region

On behalf of the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Nordic Welfare Centre is carrying out the project ‘Skills development for sustainable and effective older adult care in the Nordic region’.  

The project aims to strengthen the exchange of experience and cooperation in the Nordic region regarding skills development in older adult care and to contribute to a better knowledge base for the development of initiatives and policies in this area.   

The project is being carried out in collaboration with Professor Tine Rostgaard, the Department of Social Sciences and Business, Roskilde University, Denmark.  

A steering committee and an advisory group comprising representatives from ministries, authorities, local government organisations, etc. from the Nordic countries are also associated with the project.

• A review of research on skills development, upskilling and retraining in elderly care in the Nordic countries
• A review of national strategies, policies and initiatives in this field
• An examination of differences between home care and care homes, between larger and smaller local authorities, and between urban and rural areas.
• People with a migrant background are examined as a specific target group for skills development.

As outlined in the Nordic Council of Ministers’ cooperation programme on social and health policy, the Nordic countries must work to ensure that those in need receive timely, high-quality care. At the same time, the Nordic welfare systems must be adequately staffed and run by professionally competent personnel. However, care for the older adults in the Nordic region is already facing challenges due to labour shortages and a lack of qualified staff.  

To meet these challenges, it is essential to strengthen skills development, upskilling and retraining for staff in older adult care, with a view to ensuring adequate recruitment and retention. At the same time, new ways of working, digitalisation and the increasing complexity of residents needs place greater demands on staff skills. In a situation where both financial and staffing resources are under pressure, there is therefore a need for a strategic and continuous effort that supports staff development and their ability to handle complex tasks. 

Danmark: Bjørg Dapper-Skaaning, Sundhedsstyrelsen 

Færøerne: Eyðun Christiansen, Kommunufelagið 

Grønland: Kiista P. Isaksen, Ældretalskvinde  

Island: María Ingibjörg Kristjánsdóttir, Samband Island 

Norge: Ingrid Mydland, Helsedirektoratet 

Sverige: Anna Brooks, Socialstyrelsen og Elsa LyonSveriges Kommuner og Regioner 

Danmark: Pernille Skafte, Ældreministeriet

Finland: Minna-Liisa Luoma, Det Finske Institut for Sundhed og Velfærd (THL)

Færøerne: Rannvá Bjarkadóttir Mohr, Sundhedsministeriet

Grønland: Karen Kiær Jakobsen, Departementet for Sociale Anliggender, Arbejdsmarked og Indenrigsanliggender

Norge: Liv Heidi Brattås Remo, Helsedirektoratet

Sverige: Johanna Strindlöv, Socialdepartementet

Nordisk Ministerråds Sekretariat:

Jan Rehnberg, social og sundhed

Malene Vangdrup, uddannelse, forskning og sprog

Frida Månsson, arbejdsliv

Petter Dotterud Anthun, ligestilling og LGBTI