Other examples from the Nordic region

To broaden the picture of the measures and initiatives that were carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic in different parts of the Nordic region, here are some additional examples.

“Culture for the Neighbourhood” offered live performances in the local environment of older adults in Gothenburg during the summer of 2020. The initiative was highly appreciated by both older tenants and artists. It was followed up over four weeks in December with "Christmas for the Neighbourhood".

In places including the town of Paimio in Finland, balcony gymnastics for older adults in risk groups was organised under the guidance of a trained sports instructor.

In Finland, a number of care homes offered an opportunity to meet loved ones through a safe meeting in a container, where there was no risk of infection because they were separated by a glass wall. Publications including the newspaper Östnyland (in Swedish) and Yle (in Finnish) wrote about this.

The projects within En hverdag med stærke fællesskaber – DH's indsats mod ensomhed (in English Everyday life with strong communities – DH’s action to counter loneliness) highlight initiatives for vulnerable groups in connection with COVID-19. The projects aim to counter loneliness and isolation, and to ensure that people with disabilities can return to everyday life and society. The site presents a total of 44 different projects that were carried out during the pandemic in Denmark.

The Danish National Board of Social Services has compiled examples from several different actors involved with the elderly to create an ideas bank. The ideas are divided into three sub-categories: libraries and reading associations, exercise and nature activities, and cultural and social activities.

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has compiled a list of measures taken to help the elderly during the pandemic. The examples include tips on how to work with outreach care for the elderly and with support in everyday life.

In Iceland, the Red Cross started a project called telephone friend, in which volunteers phoned elderly people. Municipalities also had similar projects. Another concrete measure was a broadening of the TV offering during the daytime. In care homes, there was a special COVID-19 section so that those infected did not have to be isolated in their rooms.