Harmonisation of discretionary veterans’ services in the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County
The services for the elderly in the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County have decided on the criteria for granting discretionary veterans’ services. The decision is based on the County Council’s decision of 12 December 2023 on the cost-neutral harmonisation of municipality-specific discretionary benefits and services for special veterans and for spouses and widows of veterans and disabled veterans. During the municipal period, benefits or services have been offered in Lohja, Vihti, Karkkila and Espoo.
The criteria for granting discretionary veterans’ services have been decided within a budget of €100,000 allocated to the services.
Special veterans are persons who have served in certain assignments in the Finnish wars and who the State Treasury has equated with veterans by a separate Act (Act on Rehabilitation Provided to Those Who Have Served in Specific Assignments during Finnish Wars, 28.11.1997/1039). It is estimated that there are 20 special veterans living in the wellbeing services county.
In the future, special veterans will be granted free-of-charge home care services and day activities as the county’s own activity, as well as a safety service as an outsourced service. They will be granted 30 outpatient rehabilitation sessions per year and six pedicures per year. In addition, they will be granted four hours of free cleaning help per month and reimbursement of the costs of automated dispensing of medicines, provided that the criteria for granting the services are met.
Widows and spouses of front-line veterans and disabled veterans will be granted ten outpatient rehabilitation sessions per year and three pedicures per year.
The services will be granted on the basis of the new criteria once the individual service needs assessments have been carried out.
Enquiries:
Senior Info, Veterans’ Services, Karvasmäentie 6, 02740 Espoo, Finland
Anne Heinonen tel. 040 636 5989 (Espoo, Kirkkonummi, Kauniainen)
Jari Kämäräinen tel. 050 591 6823 (other municipalities) Mon–Fri 9.00–15.00.