Norway – Resources to support community and institutional Long-Term Care responses to COVID-19

LTCcovid Country Profile – Printable Version

1.03. Long-term care financing arrangements and coverage

In 2016 public LTC expenditure in Norway was estimated to represent 3.7% of Gross Domestic Product (source: European Commission: The 2018 Ageing Report).

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

1.10. Workforce conditions: pay, employment conditions, qualification levels, shortages

The Norwegian Men in Health Recruitment Programme was set up to recruit (unemployed) men aged 26-55 to the health and care sector. It entails eight weeks of guided training as health recruits in a regional health institution or health care service. The Programme has been very effective in the Norwegian context to motivate employment of men in LTC sector. A new nationwide strategy has been introduced to improve the digital skills of care workers during initial education (source: OECD: Who Cares? Attracting and Retaining Care Workers for the Elderly).

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

2.09. Impact of the pandemic on workforce shortages in the Long-Term Care sector

Norway experienced staff shortages during the various waves of the pandemic. This was mostly due to increased staff sicknesses and inability to recruit new staff. In fact, a report (February 2022) by The Federation of European Social Employers, states that Norway has experienced a strong increase of over 10% in staff shortages since 2021. The sub-sector most critically affected by staff shortages across the countries surveyed for this report were services for older persons. The job position most affected was nursing, but care assistants and homecare / social care workers also face real shortages. The most common reasons given for staff leaving the social care sector for another include low wages, and mental and physical exhaustion relating to the pandemic.

To address workforce shortages in LTC sector, Norway has taken several measures. For example, the maximum number of working hours allowed has been increased or lifted, visas for foreign workers in LTC facilities have been temporarily extended, and the country has provided financial help to LTC facilities to recruit unemployed or former LTC workers and to recruit LTC students (source: LTCcovid Norway presentation; COVID-19 in long-term care: impact, policy responses and challenges).

Update for: Norway Last updated: February 5th, 2022 Contributors: Daisy Pharoah |

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

Since 25 September 2021, there have been no national COVID-19 restrictions in Norway. Since 6 October, all national borders were open, with no particular COVID controls in place. However, from 26 November, some entry restrictions have been reintroduced – namely, the duty of all travellers entering the country to:

register their entry at the border;
produce evidence of a negative Coronavirus test if they have no valid COVID-19 certificate; and
subject themselves to testing if they are neither fully vaccinated nor have had a COVID-19 infection during the previous six months.

Other possible national restrictions are being debated, but have not been announced as of 24 November.

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: Norway Last updated: November 29th, 2021

3.04. Financial measures to support users and providers of Long-Term Care

In May/June, nurses working in the municipalities (nursing homes and home nursing) and hospitals have been striking, demanding higher salaries. The Norwegian Nursing Association (representing a large majority of Norwegian nurses) has negotiated with the municipalities and hospitals (state) for increasing wages for several years. This spring, the conflict has been heightened because of the pressures nurses working in health and care services have experienced. The authorities have given extra grants to the municipalities to cover extra expenses. However, it is the individual municipality that decides how the funds will be used. Therefore, it varies whether and how much extra resources nursing homes have received (Source: https://www.vilans.nl/vilans/media/documents/publicaties/covid-19-in-long-term-care-until-june-2021.pdf).

Update for: Norway Last updated: September 10th, 2021

3.06. Support for care sector staff and measures to ensure workforce availability

Since the start of Covid-19, Norway financially contributed to the recruitment not only of numerous LTC workers, but also of students, and former LTC workers. Moreover, Norway adopted additional emergency strategies as it prolonged LTC foreign workers’ visas and modified the allowance of working hours for LTC staff members within their facilities.

Source:

Rocard, E., P. Sillitti and A. Llena-Nozal (2021), “COVID-19 in long-term care: Impact, policy responses and challenges”, OECD Health Working Papers, No. 131, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/b966f837.

Update for: Norway Last updated: January 6th, 2022 Contributors: Elisa Aguzzoli |

3.07.03. Visiting and unpaid carer policies in care homes

There are no national restrictions on receiving visitors in care homes. However, local authorities may re-introduce some restrictions if a local outbreak of infection takes place – as, indeed, a few municipalities have done since mid-November 2021, due to recent local outbreaks of COVID-19. For example, in Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city, both care home staff and visitors have been required to wear face masks since 22 November.

The Norwegian Directorate of Health has issued a statement declaring that residents in care homes have the right to receive visitors.

Source:

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

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

As of 23 November, Norway’s single vaccination rate for people aged 18 and over is 91.7%, while the double vaccination rate is 87.6% (Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 2021).

Care home residents were the first to be vaccinated in Norway, followed by healthcare staff in direct contact with patients. Presently, persons 65+ and people in a vulnerable health condition are receiving their third dose, aimed to be completed by the end of 2021.

Source:

Update for: Norway Last updated: November 29th, 2021 Contributors: Elisa Aguzzoli |

4.12. Reforms to strengthen and guarantee the rights and voice of people who use and provide care

The right of care home residents to receive residents has been formally recognised by the Norwegian Directorate of Health.

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