LTCcovid Country Profile – Printable Version

1.00. Brief overview of the Long-Term Care system

Care for older people in Iceland is delivered at local level through community based services such as home health (covering personal care and nursing) and social social care services (help with domestic tasks, meals and wheels, etc), funded by the municipalities. There are also service and day care centres to support people who live in their own homes. Responsibility for home health is with the home health district and responsibility for social services with the municipalities. Residential and nursing homes are provided by both public (usually municipal) providers and private non-profit and for-profit providers, the state pays the greatest share or the cost of running care homes.

In 2011-12, 21% of older people aged 80 or more were living in institutional facilities and 43% were receiving home home help, the share of older people in institutional facilities is higher than in other Nordic countries and this has been attributed to an incentive for the municipalities to shift costs to the state.

References:

Sigurveig H. Sigurdardottir, Omar H. Kristmundsson & Steinunn Hrafnsdottir (2016) Care of Older Adults in Iceland: Policy Objectives and Reality, Journal of Social Service Research,42:2, 233-245, DOI: 10.1080/01488376.2015.1137535

Update for: Iceland   Last updated: February 16th, 2022

1.03. Long-term care financing arrangements and coverage

In 2018 total LTC expenditure in Iceland was estimated to represent 1.7% of Gross Domestic Product (source: https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?QueryId=30140).

Update for: Iceland   Last updated: February 10th, 2022

1.08. Care home infrastructure

There has been an important effort to upgrade care homes. Whereas in 2005 just half of people in care homes were in single rooms, and 29% had a private bathroom, by 2013 83% were in single rooms. The emphasis, since a new policy approved in 2008 is to build smaller units (for 6 to 10 people) with private rooms and and a common area for residents and staff. Minimum standards for the construction and running of care homes were issued in 2013.

(Source: Sigurveig H. Sigurdardottir, Omar H. Kristmundsson & Steinunn Hrafnsdottir (2016) Care of Older Adults in Iceland: Policy Objectives and Reality,Journal of Social Service Research,42:2, 233-245, DOI: 10.1080/01488376.2015.1137535)

Update for: Iceland   Last updated: January 6th, 2022

3.01. Brief summary of the overall pandemic response (not specific to Long-Term Care)

Iceland began lifting its COVID-19 restrictions in June 2021. Even before that, from May 2021, the country’s international borders were open to travellers from selected regions meeting negative tests and (from 1 July) vaccination requirements. For travellers with close relatives in Iceland, a negative test is required within two days of entering the country.

In November 2021 the restrictions in place were:

• The maximum number of people allowed in the same location is 50 (with certain restrictions) – in public and private locations, both indoors and outdoors. Restrictions on numbers and social distancing rules do not apply to children born in or after 2016.
• Up to 500 people may attend an organised event if additional conditions are met – namely:
  • negative rapid antigen tests for all, taken less than 48 hours ago;
  • one-metre distancing rule except when seated;
  • all guests registered; and
  • face masks obligatory.

Sources:

Directorate of Health. (October 2021). COVID-19 instructions for outdoor and indoor areas. Retrieved from https://www.landlaeknir.is/um-embaettid/greinar/grein/item43697/COVID-19-Instructions-for-outdoor-and-indoor-areas

Low LF, Feil C, Iciaszczyk N, Sinha S, Verbeek H, Backhaus R, Fadnes Jacobsen F, Hulda Tómasdóttir Þ, Ayalon L, Dixon J and Comas-Herrera. (2021) Care home visitor policies: a rapid global scan of current strategies in countries with high vaccination rates. International Public Policy Observatory and LTCcovid.org.

Update for: Iceland   Last updated: November 29th, 2021

3.02. Governance of the Long-Term Care sector's pandemic response

Update for: Iceland   Last updated: December 12th, 2021   Contributors: Elisa Aguzzoli  |  

3.07.03. Visiting and unpaid carer policies in care homes

An interdisciplinary working group on care home issues relating to COVID-19 sets Iceland’s care home infection control measures, including visiting rules. Icelandic care homes set their own visiting rules but are encouraged to follow the guidelines from this working group. Most homes have restricted visiting hours, and ask visitors to wear a mask in common areas and practice good hand hygiene.

There are no policies or procedures in place to protect the rights of residents to have visitors.

Source:

Low LF, Feil C, Iciaszczyk N, Sinha S, Verbeek H, Backhaus R, Fadnes Jacobsen F, Hulda Tómasdóttir Þ, Ayalon L, Dixon J and Comas-Herrera. (2021) Care home visitor policies: a rapid global scan of current strategies in countries with high vaccination rates. International Public Policy Observatory and LTCcovid.org.

Update for: Iceland   Last updated: December 5th, 2021   Contributors: Thordis Hulda Tomasdottir  |  

3.11. Vaccination policies for people using and providing Long-Term Care

As of 23 November 2021, 621,821 doses of vaccine have been given in Iceland. This represents double vaccination of 79% of the entire population, or 89% of Icelanders aged 12 years and older. In addition, 31% have received a third dose.

Source:

Low LF, Feil C, Iciaszczyk N, Sinha S, Verbeek H, Backhaus R, Fadnes Jacobsen F, Hulda Tómasdóttir Þ, Ayalon L, Dixon J and Comas-Herrera. (2021) Care home visitor policies: a rapid global scan of current strategies in countries with high vaccination rates. International Public Policy Observatory and LTCcovid.org.

Update for: Iceland   Last updated: November 29th, 2021