Quality Report of the OSF Publication Series
Institutional Care and Housing Services in Social Welfare
Relevance of statistical data
The statistical material on institutional care and housing
services in social care contains information on institutional care
and sheltered housing with 24-hour assistance/part-time assistance
for older people, people with physical and intellectual
disabilities and people with mental problems.
The data on residential homes for older people and similar units
are given as the numbers of clients and care days during the
statistical year, broken down by region and municipality and by
type of service provider. As regards client census data and care
day numbers, the data shows persons aged 75 and over and their
proportion of the population of the same age. In addition, client
census data of 31 December are given by age group (under 65, 65-74,
75-84 and over 85) and per thousand persons of the same age. The
client census data of 31 December is also given by average age and
need for care.
Data on institutions for people with intellectual disabilities
and similar units are given as numbers of clients and care days
during the statistical year. The numbers of clients and care days
are given by region and municipality and by type of service
provider. The client census data of 31 December are also given per
thousand persons aged 15-64.
Data on institutions for substance abusers are given as numbers
of clients, care periods and care days during the statistical year,
broken down by region. The data are also given per thousand persons
aged 15-64. In addition, the number of clients during the year is
broken down by age group (under 25, 25-64 and over 65) and per
hundred thousand persons of the same age. The share accounted for
by men is also given. Care days and care periods are given by type
of service provider.
Clients in housing services are given for each year, based on
the client census data of 31 December. The information is given by
region and municipality and by type of service provider. The data
on housing services is also broken down by service branch.
The Statistical Summary is aimed at municipal and private-sector
service providers, municipal and city officials, planning officials
and researchers working in the area of social welfare and health
care.
The summary text describes the concepts and definitions used in
the statistics.
The collection of data is based on the Act on the Statistical
Service of the National Research and Development Centre for Welfare
and Health (409/2001), as well as on Section 2 of the Act on the
National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health
(1073/92).
Description of methods used in statistical research
The data on institutional care and housing services are
collected from municipal and private-sector residential homes for
older people, sheltered housing units with 24-hour assistance for
older people, care institutions and housing services with 24-hour
assistance for people with intellectual disabilities,
detoxification and rehabilitation centres operated as part of
services for substance abusers, and housing services with part-time
assistance. The statistical population consists of all people
receiving institutional care or sheltered housing provided as
social care. It does not include housing service units operated as
part of services for substance abusers, and child welfare
institutions. Service providers are obliged to provide STAKES, by
the end of March in the next year, with discharge data concerning
institutional care and 24-hour care, as well as client census
data.
The data are submitted on data collection forms or as a
sequential file on disc. They are stored electronically in the Care
Register for Social Welfare maintained by STAKES pursuant to the
Act on the Statistical Service of the National Research and
Development Centre for Welfare and Health (409/2001), and Section 2
of the Act on the National Research and Development Centre for
Welfare and Health (1073/92).
As for residential homes for older people, the statistics have
nearly a full coverage. As for sheltered housing for older people
with 24-hour and part-time assistance, the coverage is 96 per cent.
The statistics on institutional care for people with intellectual
disabilities, in turn, have nearly a full coverage. The data on
housing with 24-hour assistance are incomplete with regard to
municipalities, whereas the corresponding data for joint municipal
boards and the private sector have nearly a full coverage. The
coverage of the data on housing with part-time assistance is about
80 per cent, with shortcomings for all service providers. As used
herein, institutions operated as part of services for substance
abusers (detoxification and rehabilitation centres) refer to
institutions approved by the Social Insurance Institution as
institutions providing care that entitles the client to a
rehabilitation allowance, and to all detoxification centres.
Concerning these institutions, 90 per cent of the data have been
obtained. The service providers that have failed to submit data are
mostly small detoxification units.
Correctness and accuracy of data
The data are correct in so far as they have been reported
correctly. Errors appear, for example, as regards service branches,
start dates for care and appropriate care places. The data has also
included people who no longer receive the services concerned. If
there is data completely missing, it is often due to problems with
reporting programs or personnel changes at the data suppliers. Once
an error is detected in the Care Register, efforts are made to
correct it in connection with the Register's normal compilation and
maintenance procedures. Data suppliers themselves are usually asked
to correct any errors or deficiencies detected in their data.
Timeliness and promptness of published data
The Statistical Summary on institutional care and housing
services provided by social care agencies is produced annually by
STAKES. It is published in September-October.
Accessibility and transparency/clarity of data
The Statistical Summary is published at the STAKES website at
http://www.stakes.fi/statistics/institutionalcare
When the Summary has been completed, a message is sent by e-mail
to municipalities and joint municipal boards.
Comparability of statistical data
Data for the Care Register for Social Welfare have been gathered
since 1995. Although a few minor changes have been made over the
years, the core data content of the Register has remained almost
unchanged, describing service providers, clients, client admissions
and discharges, and the care and services received by clients.
Clarity and consistency
The data given in the Statistical Summary on institutional care
and housing services in social care are nationwide. The figures do
not include residential and foster care for children and young
people, assignment-based family care, and housing services for
substance abusers.
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