We visit Stockholm's nursing home. Just like many other elderly homes, many of the staff here do not have Swedish as their mother tongue.
-It is clear that there will be language problems from time to time, it will be. That you may not really understand what they are saying. But in general, it works very well, I think, says one of the residents, Birgitta Ekman.
Lack of language causes problems
The municipality has asked their representatives in the elderly care and the report shows that lack of knowledge in Swedish causes problems in many places in the elderly care.
At Stockholm's nursing home they complained a few years ago and since then they have invested in the language here.
- Then we tested all our employees in language, and we made sure that they received language-supportive efforts at work and at work, says Therese Lindberg, operations manager at Stockholm's nursing home.
"Too low thresholds to be hired"
In addition, fifteen employees were trained as language representatives. The nurse Peter Sindmark is one of them. He supports colleagues who need help with the Swede. He thinks that the newcomers should have a longer internship to learn the language at work. We ask if he thinks the thresholds have been too low to be his colleague. He hesitates for a moment before answering.
-Yes sometimes. With some people. But that is highly individual.
Making higher demands on language skills is a hot question. This week, the Care Committee in Sölvesborg decided that they want language test people looking for jobs in the elderly care.
Municipal: "We demand responsibility"
Now Kommunal demands higher demands, better education and more money, so that those who need to learn the language can do it during working hours.
-The problem is that too many people think it is an easy job to work in healthcare and care. It is not. Education is required and good knowledge of the Swedish language is required. And that is, of course, the responsibility of employers and politicians. So we demand responsibility from them, says Municipal President Tobias Baudin.
The Social Democrats made the choice to strengthen Swedish skills in healthcare and care.
SVT: Why hasn't it hit yet?
-Yes, you can really think about that, says Social Minister Lena Hallengren (S), and continues:
-I still think it should be reasonable as an employer to set these requirements. I think it is absolutely essential to be able to offer good welfare. Obviously, you cannot manage to set the requirements and to educate in Swedish. So there is something that we must look at how we can strengthen both the requirement and also the opportunity to both learn the education in itself and the Swedish language.
"Happy living when the language is in focus"
Peter Sindmark has noticed a marked improvement since they began to focus more on the language and conversations. Not least among the residents.
-You look like they're happier and more open. Those who can walk themselves come out of the rooms and sit in the day room and have a chat with us, for example.