Problems in Social and Health Care Services of People with Dementia in Finland: Formal Rights and Lived Experiences of Access to Justice in a Welfare State

Abstract Since age is the most important risk factor for dementia and the number of aged people in Western countries is increasing, so also the population living with dementia is growing. This sets new demands on the welfare society, and previous studies have shown that many older people do not receive the help they need. In this article, we report on the findings of a survey focused on people with dementia and their family members, concentrating on everyday problems, well-being, and realization of rights of people with dementia (N = 206) conducted in 2023. We describe the problems revealed in the survey and discuss them in reference to Finnish legislation. The most frequently stated problems reported were related to availability, accessibility, and quality of social and health care services. Some of the problems uncovered through the survey were direct legal problems while others were not. However, many mundane problems can become legal issues over time. With knowledge of such everyday problems, we have a theoretical possibility of preventing them from becoming direct legal problems and severe violations of rights. With this study we show that on a practical level, care and assistance for people with dementia are often provided by relatives and other close people. In this regard our study confirms prior research findings. However, these care providers are often elderly themselves, and their ability to provide adequate care is diminishing. In a society where a growing number of people are aging without children of their own, innovative and sustainable solutions are needed to provide support in accessing suitable social and health care services.