Home care

What is home support?

Home support is available to Reykjavík residents 18 and older who live independently and need assistance due to disability, family circumstances, stress, or illness. Home support includes help with daily activities, such as dressing, personal hygiene, eating and using technology for household tasks and medication management. It also includes social support, such as through virtual visits.

Am I entitled to home support?

You may be eligible for home support if you need assistance due to reduced ability, stress, illness or family circumstances. The service is for people with legal residence in Reykjavík who are over 18 years old and live independently.

Home support (I. heimastuðningur) used to be called social home care (I. félagsleg heimaþjónusta) and is provided on the basis of the Reykjavík City Rules on Support Services.

• Rules on Support Services

How do I apply for home support?

You apply for home support online using My Pages.

• Apply for home support

You can also fill out a PDF application and send it to heima@reykjavik.is or submit it at your district center.

• Application form for home support

If we need additional documentation, such as a medical certificate, you will be contacted. Healthcare workers can also request home support, in consultation with you, if they feel it is needed.

If you need further advice, you can schedule a call with a counselor.

• Book a call

What happens next?

After we receive your signed home support application, the next step is assessing your support needs. We conduct this assessment in your home, working closely with you. The evaluation considers your social situation, living circumstances, and personal capabilities.

The overall situation is considered in the assessment. If the assessment reveals that there is no need for support or that conditions are not met, the application is denied. If an application is accepted, a support plan is prepared in consultation with you. This support plan sets out the goals of the service, its scope, and the main tasks.

If your application is denied and you believe there are special reasons that warrant an exception to the rules, you can submit an appeal to the Welfare Council appeals committee.

Is there a fee for the services?

All services are free. The only exception is cleaning, which incurs a fee for up to six visits per month. People whose earnings are less than or equal to the Social Insurance Administration cost-of-living index do not have to pay for home support in the form of cleaning.

You must cover any associated costs when home support occurs outside your residence.

• Apply for an exemption from the home support cleaning fee

How does the service work?

Following your support needs assessment and application approval, we determine your specific type of support in consultation with you. You might then receive services from the Reykjavík Rehabilitation Team or the virtual service center, which offers digital care like virtual visits and automated medication dispenser monitoring.