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In Iceland, community is highly valued due to its small population of around 370,000 people. This sense of community is evident in various aspects of Icelandic life, including the care and support provided to older people.
During a visit to a community house, which consists of Independent Living Units (ILUs) in the multi-storey building, I observed the ground floor dedicated to serving the needs of the entire community. The community house serves as a hub for people of different age groups and provides a range of services and activities.
Young people come to the community house to learn chess, theatre, and attend various training sessions. This fosters a sense of inclusiveness and provides a space for, amongst others, disenfranchised young individuals to participate in group activities.
On the ground floor, older people have access to services such as showering and dressing assistance. However, the community house goes beyond basic care and focuses on engagement and connection for older individuals. There is a craft room open to the whole community, equipped with sewing machines, overlockers, and ceramic painting workshops. These activities encourage creativity and provide a social space for older people to interact with each other alongside a vareity of people within the community.
To live in one of the ILUs in the community house, individuals must be over 65 years of age. Once they reach the age of 67, they are no longer allowed to work. While some people embrace retirement, others find it challenging to adapt to this requirement. The staff at the community house work diligently to create a sense of community by offering free coffee and tea, organizing communal meals, creating festival days, and providing multiple opportunities for engagement.
The manager, Stigga, and the team leader, Helga, emphasize the importance of kindness, care, and support in creating a vibrant community. Stigga believes in the power of deep listening, stating that when you truly listen to someone, they feel heard and believed in, which can help them develop a sense of self-belief.
One particularly successful program at the community house is the engagement between older people and an early learning centre. This intergenerational program allows older individuals to interact with young children, fostering connections and creating a mutually beneficial environment. Stigga and Helga plan to expand these types of initiatives in the future, emphasizing a whole-community approach to engaging older people and promoting a sense of belonging.
In Iceland, the values of community, engagement, connectedness, and love are consistently prioritized. These elements are seen as universal and essential, whether it involves children or older people. Recognising the importance of diversity, Icelandic society places a strong emphasis on training and acceptance of diverse identities, including gender, culture, and sexual preference. The presence of Rainbow Streets in every city and town signifies the commitment to respecting the rights of individuals to make their own choices and celebrating the uniqueness of each person.
In summary, Iceland places great importance on community, engagement, and providing support for both children and older people. The commitment to inclusiveness, diversity, and creating meaningful connections is evident in various aspects of Icelandic society, from the Out of School Hours Care services to the community houses that cater to the needs of older individuals.