Rehabilitative nursing improves the quality of life of older people   

Rehabilitative nursing is the beacon of services for the elderly, always topical and important, Says Anna Troberg, Head of Rehabilitation for the Services of Older Persons in the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County, according to whom the objectives of rehabilitative nursing include supporting the daily life of older people and encouraging them to be active. 

– Whether it’s rehabilitative nursing, everyday rehabilitation or a rehabilitative work approach, the aim is always to slow down the decline in functional capacity of older people. A rehabilitative and activating approach to work can mean, for example, encouraging the elderly in basic tasks, such as dressing and moving around on their own, or using an assistive device or an accompanying person.”   

According to Troberg, rehabilitative nursing can be carried out by all professionals working with older people.    

– The largest group of rehabilitative nursing professionals are practical nurses. Rehabilitative approach to work is already included in their studies. Occupational therapists and physiotherapists working with older people also implement a rehabilitative approach.”

 

Jatta Virolainen, who works at Villa Breda in Kauniainen, a housing unit for older people in the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County, is familiar with the concept of rehabilitative nursing services.

– We at Villa Breda emphasise multi-professional co-operation. In order for nurses to be able to carry out rehabilitative nursing, the entire team must act with a rehabilitative approach. We physiotherapists, together with the resident and other teams, plan a personal action plan for everyone”, she explains.

According to Virolainen, in addition to exercise and everyday physical activity, rehabilitative nursing includes smaller and larger insights in everyday activities, such as encouraging residents to take initiative and supporting carers to change their operating models so that residents get time and the opportunity to do things themselves. 

Virolainen feels that it is important to plan working days so that every resident's everyday life is made meaningful by offering an opportunity for active agency. Each resident also has a personal mobility plan. 

– The mobility plan is also implemented for those who are unable to move independently in some respects. Even if the resident is already fragile and they can no longer walk, existing resources will be sought and utilised. For example, a person sitting in a wheelchair can wheel by themselves, eat by themselves and take care of their personal hygiene, such as brush their teeth and wash their face.” 

When older people gain experiences of success as active operators, they continue to believe in their own abilities and skills. This is called increasing self-efficacy. 

 

– All stages of life, whether it’s the beginning, middle or nearer the end, a good quality of life is a fundamental human right.” 

According to Jatta Virolainen, increasing rehabilitative nursing in the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County is undergoing continuous development. Rehabilitative nursing is developed at her workplace, for example, in physiotherapist team meetings and multi-professional teams, where the best working methods are shared with everyone.

The sharing of information and experiences and the implementation of good operating models are also at the centre of projects led by Anna Troberg. These projects promote functional capacity.    

– The key focus of these projects is that services for older people in Western Uusimaa are as equal as possible, and that they are based on on research-based information on promoting the functional capacity of older people, as well as research-based good practices and operational models.”