The renovated nursing home Hlévangur in Reykjanesbær, a town on Iceland’s south-west peninsula, has reopened with its first residents now moved in. The reopening comes as Health Minister Alma D. Möller calls for better monitoring of medication treatments for older people in care facilities. Vísir first reported the developments.
Alma D. Möller said it is important to investigate underlying causes and consider alternative measures for elderly individuals before resorting to antipsychotic medications. According to RÚV and the Government of Iceland, the minister’s remarks highlight a renewed focus on responsible medication practices for elder care.
The issue of medication administration in nursing homes was brought before Alþingi, Iceland’s parliament, today by Halla Hrund Logadóttir of the Progressive Party. The parliament, founded in 930, is recognized as one of the oldest in the world.
Hlévangur now offers 24 single nursing rooms arranged on two floors, each with a private bathroom. The building is owned by the municipality of Reykjanesbær, which carried out the renovations after government talks and a lease agreement.
The home had been closed around the turn of the year after the opening of a new facility, Hrafnista at Nesvellir, also in Reykjanesbær. Its temporary reopening is a response to a critical shortage of nursing places, which had put pressure on the emergency department at Landspítali University Hospital (Landspítali) in Reykjavík. Suðurnes Hospital & Health Center (HSS) (Heilbrigðisstofnun Suðurnesja) has agreed to operate Hlévangur.
Background
The Reykjanes peninsula in south-west Iceland is known for its proximity to Keflavík international airport and the Blue Lagoon, and has experienced several volcanic eruptions since 2021. Nursing home capacity issues have been closely linked to hospital discharge bottlenecks.
Sources
- Stjórnarráð Íslands (Government of Iceland) in Icelandic
- Vísir (first reported) in Icelandic
- RÚV in Icelandic
