Care and social services for the elderly and for persons with impairments

Summary

Strengths This registry gives an overview of profile and trends in public support in the form of social services to the elderly or to individuals with functional impairments. Weaknesses All municipalities are reporting data. Partial non-response can be in the form of single people and their contributions are not included in the reporting. The extent of this error is unknown.

Type of data

Data Source
Registry

Type of Study
Cohort study

Data gathering method
Registries

Access to data

Conditions of access
Downloaded files. This register is open to both health and social policy sectors as well as to research. Data is only available after specific application and decision of approval taken by the SNBHW.

Type of available data (e.g. anonymised microdata, aggregated tables, etc.)
Anonymised microdata, aggregated tables on request

Formats available
Primarily SAS, SPSS, Excel and texts (and others on request).

Coverage

Coverage Years of collection, reference years, and sample sizes
The register contains information on the scope of certain municipal services in accordance with the Social Services Act (2001:453) provided for elderly and persons with functional impairments. The statistics, which are part of the official statistics of Sweden, are based on individual data (including consumers’ national registration numbers) which were gathered in 2007 for the first time. The information shown in the report is shown by municipality, county and for the country as a whole.

First year of collection
2007

Stratification if applicable
Covers the whole country and the specific population

Base used for sampling

Geographical coverage and breakdowns
The whole country

Age range
No restrictions, all ages are covered

Statistical representativeness
Special group, please specify

Coverage of main and cross-cutting topics
In summary, the register includes the following information: • Individuals who live permanently in special forms of housing • Individuals in ordinary housing who were granted home help • Individuals in ordinary housing who had a decision on assistance for home help services • Individuals who had decisions on assistance for short-term care • Individuals who had decisions on assistance for daytime activities • Individuals who had decisions on assistance for living support

Linkage

Standardisation
The International Classification of Diseases ICD is a statistical classification with diagnostic codes for grouping diseases and causes of death in order to make the limited statistical summaries and analyzes. The Swedish version is called ICD-10-SE.

Possibility of linkage among databases
Good opportunities to combine with other Swedish registries on social care and assistance for the elderly, hospital care or drug use. Also a number of registries monitored by Statistics Sweden on living conditions, work and income, social insurance etc. One such example is a study of old citizens most in need of help, where NBHW draws data from • The SOL-register and • National Patient Register • Prescribed Drug Register • National quality register for stroke care, National Stroke • National Quality Register for hip fracture patients and their treatment-Rikshöft and • The Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen: SNAC-K. A population survey of residents in central Stockholm. See: Socialstyrelsen (2013) Registeranalyser av de mest sjuka äldres vård och omsorg. Register analysis of the medical and social care for the most sick old citizens (In Swedish only) This report describes the National Board of the sickest situation of older people using data from health data and social registers, quality register on hip fractures and National Stroke, the dataset SNAC-K and the study on elderly’s perception of the aging care

Data quality

Entry errors if applicable
The quality of the register of social services for the elderly and people with disabilities is good. All municipalities reporting data. Partial non-response can be in the form of single people and their contributions are not included in the reporting. The extent of this error is unknown. The reliability and the statistical quality of the data collected can vary between municipalities. The quality is associated with the local IT systems and how the various actions defined. Approved number of home care hours may not always be as certain municipalities instead take aid decisions on a certain level of care. In those cases indicated an estimated number of home help hours instead making the variable something delicate.

Breaks
Since the registry's creation can compare data for all years between 2007 and 2012 except for 2009. The measurement points vary slightly for the different years. Since 2013 data are as of the last day of the month for each month as well as data on changes during the month.

Consistency of terminology or coding used during collection
Since the registry's creation one can compare data for all years between 2007 and 2012 except for 2009. The measurement points varies slightly for the different years. Since 2013 data are as of the last day of the month for each month as well as data on changes during the month. Since 2013, the figures relate solely to decisions that have resulted in provision of care.

Governance

Contact information
Lina Boberg
SNBHW (Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare)
Rålambsvägen 3
11259 Stockholm Sweden Phone: +46-75-247 38 57
Email: lina.boberg(at)socialstyrelsen.se
Url: http://www.socialstyrelsen.se/register/socialtjanstregister/socialtjanstinsatsertillaldreochpersonermedfunktionsnedsattning/inenglish

Timeliness, transparency
Depends. Usually six months from the measured day.