Neurological damage and diseases
This summary consists of public documents and laws, research, development projects and other tools and resources. The purpose of the summary is to identify, gather and present practical knowledge about the establishment and implementation of day care, activity and training services for persons with neurological disorders and diseases in the municipal health and care services. The main target group is decision makers, managers and employees in the municipalities who wish to establish this type of services. The following main question is in focus: What practical knowledge is of particular importance to municipalities that have established or wish to establish day care, activity and training services for people with neurological disorders or diseases?
Municipal experience and varied research evidence
The summary illustrates that there have been conducted relatively many studies regarding the effects of exercise and activity for the user group. Some neurological conditions are represented especially often in this research, i.e. Parkinson’s disease and stroke. Positive effects of exercise and activity for these groups seem well documented. Research also shows that people in this target group often have complex needs, which can often include cognitive and emotional manifestations, as well as psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety and depression. This reinforces the understanding that persons with neurological conditions need an interdisciplinary approach and individual adaptations in the services. There has also been found research on the establishment, organization and implementation of such services that are the subject of this summary, but there are few results in this field.
Municipal development projects illustrate that many relevant issues need to be considered when establishing services to the target group. These experiences represent useful knowledge for other municipalities who wish to establish this type of services. Many of the issues that emerge from experience are of a practical nature and related to themes such as logistics, transportation and premises. At the same time, the development projects also highlight the heterogeneity within this user group and how this can affect the need for new and more (specialized) expertise when establishing such services.
Need for knowledge
Based on this summary, there are several areas where there is a need for further knowledge:
- development projects in the municipalities often report positive results, both related to improved function and user satisfaction. At the same time, larger and more systematic investigations of this type of data are missing. This is supported by the fact that few research studies have been found on the establishment, organization and implementation of such services that are the subject of this summary.
- there is a need for research on the user group over time. How do the user needs develop with and without services? What effect do services have on the group over time? To what extent do the municipalities that have initiated the establishment of services, succeed in continuing these?
- there seems to be a need for more knowledge about user involvement in the service design. This especially apply at individual level, in line with the identified need for personalized services. The importance of the services for relatives is another area that is perceived to be weakly documented.
- the municipalities often need multidisciplinary expertise related to the user group. The use of interdisciplinary teams and cooperation between specialist and municipal health services in this field is another theme where increased knowledge would could be useful.