This summer has seen a nursing shortage in Finnish eldercare facilities and the problem is likely to persist this autumn. Krister Lindman, who manages eldercare services for the city of Porvoo, talks of an acute staffing shortage, as the care sector faces difficulties recruiting staff. No applications are coming in for vacant positions: the situation should improve in the autumn, but not much. As of next year, a new law on eldercare staffing requirements will set a minimum nursing quota for round-the-clock care at old-age institutions at 7 caregivers for 10 residents. Although the rationale of the law is reasonable, Lindman is less than optimistic about the binding quota: since care facilities are already short-staffed, he reckons that the quota will not be met. Government should consider what 0.7 caregivers per patient could mean in practice: reducing the number of places available in a facility. In order to meet the demands of an aging population, Finland is expected to need around 30,000 more nurses by the year 2030. Read more on YLE.fi
