Rehabilitation system needs to be improved

The rehabilitation system should be improved, especially with regard to the rehabilitation processes and the rehabilitation opportunities of older persons and the unemployed, said the rehabilitation reform committee in its report.

The committee also observed that clients are not receiving the rehabilitation services they need at the right time or on an equal basis. Moreover, they do not have sufficient information about available services.

The committee submitted its report to Minister of Social Affairs and Health Pirkko Mattila and Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Annika Saarikko on Thursday, said an official press release.

The final report contains 55 development proposals, most of which aim at improving the rehabilitation processes and the organising of rehabilitation services, but there are also proposals to improve the relevant information systems, training, and research and development.

The committee, however, has not been able to give detailed proposals for legislative amendments in all respects, because the health and social services reform is still under way.

According to the report, the Finnish rehabilitation system works well in many cases, but fragmentation in the rehabilitation processes creates problems.

The committee has proposed a regional model for home rehabilitation for the ageing population. A regional operator would assess clients’ needs for rehabilitation services and plan and organise the services according to the assessed needs.

According to the report, successful rehabilitation requires a model for responsible client guidance services and a clear target for rehabilitation. The rehabilitation targets defined together with the client and the services needed to reach those targets would be brought together in the client care plan in a way that helps the client’s daily life. The plan would serve as a guide to the clients themselves, their relatives, the service providers involved and all the operators responsible for the clients’ services.

The regional government, health and social services reform will give the counties the responsibility for employment services (i.e. growth services) and for the organising of health and social services. This opens up new opportunities to create a more coherent system of rehabilitation services for unemployed clients. Research shows that prolonged unemployment increases the risk of incapacity for work. The committee urges that the organisation of the new growth services take into account the needs of long-term unemployed persons. It is also important to care for the work capacity of unemployed job seekers, and monitor their need for rehabilitation services. Clients’ need for services should be assessed straight away at the start of unemployment and on a regular basis thereafter.