ANNE-LI ISGÄRDE, MANAGER FOR CARE OF THE ELDERLY, JÖNKÖPING MUNICIPALITY

WHAT DOES A "MORE BEAUTIFUL DAY" AT ROSENGÅRDEN MEAN?

There should be something beautiful for all the senses. Fresh cut flowers, aromatic spices and soft rugs. The scent of cinnamon buns – we bake every day. Our residents should feel that they are living in a welcoming and homely environment. We have the advantage of being close to nature, and make the most of it with a large, well-furnished terrace, balconies and excursions to the nearby park. We offer two activity options every day and also organise ice hockey evenings, pub nights and spa days with nail care, for example. Everyone is welcome to join in many of the activities, even visiting relatives and guests.

WHAT IS YOUR FURNISHING LIKE?

There is no institutional feel here or broken furniture. We have good interior design, with stable but beautiful furniture for different types of sitting – from functional easy chairs

to sofa groups and rocking chairs. The furniture is sturdy but flexible and easy to move if needed. We have also made use of corridors and passageways to create exciting environments with section seating and a small library. Screens allow relatives to connect their mobile phone or USB stick and show photos. We have also installed fireplaces which use special fuel.

ISN'T IT A LOT OF EXTRA WORK?

No. We have created a special folder system which our staff work with. Everyone knows exactly what they have to do in a working day, which means that everything gets done and we even have extra time together with our residents. Daily life is structured and many members of staff say that they find their work meaningful.

DO YOU SEE THE RESULTS?

We find that our residents and their relatives are very satisfied. For us the physical environment has become an important part of the Rosengården brand. We have tenants queuing up to come here and staff who spontaneously apply for jobs because they've heard about our good environment. This gives us an important competitive edge in a situation where it would otherwise be difficult to get staff.