Integrated home care services

Integrated home care services (home support and home nursing) provide personalized care. The goal is to enable people to live at home as long as they wish, despite illness or disability.

Why integrated home care services?

Integrated home care services aim to ensure individuals who need care at home receive integrated services at the appropriate level. Under integrated home care, there are three rehabilitation teams in Reykjavík, as well as a virtual service center, offering services like virtual visits and monitoring of automated medication dispensers. Once a service needs assessment is completed, it is determined from which team or teams the service will be provided.

What is home support?

Home support includes social interaction and assistance with daily tasks and general household management. You may be eligible for home support if you need assistance due to reduced ability, stress, illness or family circumstances.

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.

How do I apply for home support?

You apply for home support online using My Pages.

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

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 phone call from a counselor

What happens next?

Once a signed application is available, the next step is the assessment of support needs. The assessment takes place in the applicant’s home in close collaboration with the applicant, where the applicant’s social status, circumstances and skills are taken into account.

The overall situation of people 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 the user. 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 exceptional circumstances, you can request a review by the Welfare Council Appeal Board.

How much does the service cost?

The cleaning fee is kr. 1470 per hour, but never more than 6 hours 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.

When home support takes place outside the home, the user must pay the costs incurred.

Residential care

Home nursing is for people of all ages who live at home and need regular health services. It involves visits by nurses or practical nurses and is provided in close cooperation with users and their families.

Home-based rehabilitation

People may need help restoring and maintaining their activity, health and quality of life. Through home-based rehabilitation, people receive training and counseling to suit their needs. The rehabilitation is largely carried out at the users’ home or in their local environment.

Welfare technology

Reykjavík City emphasizes the testing and implementation of welfare technology in the services provided to city residents with the aim of enabling people to live longer in their own homes with better living conditions, despite aging, disability or illness.

Development project for dementia

People with dementia and their families often need extra support to face a variety of challenges in their daily lives.

The development project for social support due to dementia is designed to relieve the burden of home care for people with dementia and improve the quality of life for them and members of their families.

Where can I find out more?

Staff at the Centers provide information about integrated home care services at 411 9600.

  • Residents of Laugardalur and Háaleiti receive home support from North Center. The head of the department is Ragna Lilja Garðarsdóttir, tel. 411 1590.
  • Residents of Breiðholt, Árbær, Grafarholt and Grafarvogur receive home support from the East Center. The head of the department is Ragnheiður Þórisdóttir, tel. 411 9600.
  • Residents of Hlíðar, Miðbær, Vesturbær, and Seltjarnarnes receive home support from the West Center. The head of the department is Ása Kolbrún Hauksdóttir, tel. 411 9650.

More details are available in the Rules on Support Services