palvelutarve

Palvelutarve refers to the level and type of support a person requires from social welfare and health care services to maintain independence, safety, and well-being. In Finland it is used to guide the planning and delivery of municipal services such as home care, rehabilitation, daycare, housing support, and, if necessary, residential care. The concept covers both formal services and support provided by informal networks.

The assessment of service need is carried out by public sector professionals, typically social workers and nurses, often with the client’s involvement. The process includes interviewing the client, evaluating daily functioning and medical conditions, assessing cognitive and mental health status, living conditions, safety risks, and the client’s social support network. Standardized tools may be used to measure functioning in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). The outcome is a service need determination and usually a service or care plan.

The end product describes the recommended services, their intensity and frequency, and who will provide them. It may indicate whether services should be delivered at home, in a supported housing arrangement, or in a residential setting. The plan also considers the needs of informal caregivers and aims to preserve the client’s independence and participation in daily life.

Procedures emphasize client rights, informed consent, privacy, and the possibility to appeal or review the assessment. The concept of pal- velutarve guides resource allocation and cross-sector cooperation within municipalities, and is central to person-centered planning in social and health care.