Recipes for Systemic Change - Helsinki Design Lab

D2.6 Excessive InstitutionalizationThe long-term care of patients within health centres and specializedhealth facilities has been of particular concern in recent years due to itsperception as an inefficient and source of major financial strain within theelder care system. In 2007, over 10,000 patients in long-term care in healthcentres and specialized health facilities required over 6.5 million care daysduring the course of one year (Facts about Social and Health Care).There is concern that the abundance of available beds in these facilitiesis actually a negative factor detracting from the level of care an elderlyperson may expect. An individual entering an institution in need ofonly minor care, may rapidly deteriorate and eventually require long-terminstitutional care when or if they become isolated and restricted within thesystem,.293