Social entrepreneur’s Profile

Lone Koldby

Aktivitetdosetten

Lone Koldby is humanizing long-term care for the elderly in Norway by placing activity and social interaction at the center of the care regimens in nursing homes and empowering their occupants to play active roles in designing those regimens and reclaiming their rights as senior citizens. 

The mission of the social enterprise before Corona:

 

In an age of continuing development of improved medical treatments for the elderly, Lone’s organization, Aktivitetdosetten, is addressing the absence of parallel gains in opportunities for revitalizing activity and social interaction in most eldercare institutions. Lone and her colleagues are repositioning the individual as the focal point of care in eldercare institutions. They are changing care practices to ensure that nursing staff consider each person’s individual life experience and needs for social interaction, rather than focusing solely on their physical ailments, in designing and providing the needed care. As a result, nursing homes are transformed into more “caring” and more “humane” institutions and the physical vitality, emotional satisfaction, and mental health of their newly empowered residents are markedly improved. Lone is mobilizing care staff, family members, volunteers and residents of eldercare institutions in Norway to incorporate a diverse and creative array of new activities and unprecedented social interaction into the previously rigid routines and cultures of eldercare institutions. 

What changed with Corona?

Eldercare institutions are, perhaps, some of the most impacted organizations by the Coronavirus crisis. Elderly people are the highest risk group for succumbing to COVID-19. Many elderly people can feel isolated during normal times, but this is an even bigger problem now that people must socially distance to slow the spread of the disease. The absence of visits from friends and relatives gives an even greater need for a meaningful, tailored day. 

The personal biggest worry and hope:

Ashoka: How are you dealing with the situation and what is your biggest personal worry?

Lone: Personally, it is distressing not to be able to visit the nursing homes and institutions as I would normally do. My biggest worry is the risk of residents experience more loneliness and isolation. With a cognitive disorder this situation can be terribly frightening and it can be very damaging for the individual.

Ashoka: What is inspiring you and giving you hope that we can overcome this crisis?

Lone: I am hopeful about this crisis giving us a “new set of eyes” to look at our practice. It can be a catalyst to try new ways and improving the dignity and life quality for people with care needs.