English
Being in rehabilitation after a serious accident is often a long and personal struggle. It’s not about medals, but about quality of life and independence. Personal records are set at all times. Supporting the foundation give the opportunity to help people – who fight for what we take for granted!
Sunnaas foundation was established on 1 February 2006 by individuals who wanted to do something more for the patients at Sunnaas rehabilitation hospital than the services of the public sector can provide. Sunnaas Foundation’s goal is to cover the gap between public funding and patients’ needs. We manage, organize and prioritize new projects in close dialogue with the hospital’s administrative and academic leadership.
Hospital departments seek Sunnaas Foundation funding for projects through its own application form on our website. Sunnaas Foundation seeks general contributions to it’s fund and, in addition, offers large companies the opportunity to make specific contributions to individual major projects.
We want to help the hospital so that at all times they can provide patients with the best and most suitable rehabilitation, treatment and support – and that the hospital maintains it’s position as a driving force for development in rehabilitation.
Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital is Norway’s largest specialist hospital in the field of medical rehabilitation. The hospital are situated in three locations – Nesodden, Askim and Drøbak. The total capacity is 161 beds. In addition to the actual rehabilitation process, training & advising patients & relatives and conducting research are important activities at Sunnaas.
Sunnaas Hospital is one of fifteen medical health institutions in Norway’s South Eastern Health Region. The hospital has it’s own User Committee to assist in ensuring the protection of the rights and interests of patients and relatives.
To receive a serious injury that can result in paralysis or cognitive impairment is an extremely traumatic experience – both physically and physiologically. For those are affected – their lives are turned upside down and nothing is the same again. Most of our patients find that they need lots of help and support to carry out simple tasks. Everyday activities such as moving, eating, dressing appear to be difficult and almost prohibitive duties.
Many perceive this as a loss of independence – a loss that Sunnaas Foundation will attempt to limit by allocating funds to projects that promote coping, quality of life and reintegration into society.
To shape a way forward in life for seriously injured and sick people is a most challenging task for all of those who have to deal with it. Rehabilitation is painstaking and demanding work that requires knowledge of the full range of human capabilities and needs – physical as well as mentally. In addition there is a requirement for an individual adaptation and adjustment of the process, since no two people have the same view of life, or have the same goals and ambitions with their lives. It is manageable however, but it requires a comprehensive and tailored rehabilitation process which requires, first and foremost, great efforts by the patients themselves. This applies very much those who are patients at Sunnaas hospital.
Priority projects
Sunnaas Foundation wants to contribute so that children in rehabilitation are given the opportunity meet other children in a suitable environment. Parents should be able to meet and share experiences. Therefore we have donated funds to build a “happy room” for children where they can be in a fun environment with their parents. The room is also used for families of patients.
“I’m always inspired by the spirit of children with such challenges. Now Peter and I give something back to those who need it. “
- Henning Solberg, Rally Champion of Norway
Sunnaas Foundation has established a collaboration with the Norwegian Sports Association to ensure that disabled children and young people can take part in sport . Sunnaas foundation is working to ensure that patients will get out in the nature and try out various sports activities while they are still in rehabilitation. Sailing trips, ski trips and activity trips of various kinds are some of the activities that we organize.
Culture - from sickness to recovery
After a serious injury the medical, technical and physical side of the injury is the focus from the health personnel . All this concentration on physical health is of course very essential in such a serious situation, but patients also have a strong need for something healthy, fresh and natural – something creative, vibrant and free that could distract the patient from a depressing state and can mobilize the energy and focus needed to get into a better state. Here we believe in the concept of cultural activities that can help to contribute to change the focus from being sick to getting well again.
Nowadays cultural activities play a large role in our social networks. Artistic activity and participation can create excitement or provoke thoughts. The experience of such participation will help to draw attention away from pain and their own problems. Instead, participation in cultural activities such as painting and pottery provide experience, quality of life and the creation of new hope and enthusiasm. In such a context, the focus is not on disease and defects, but instead on the resources and participation. Cultural activities in this respect can be a kind of missing link between health measures and education / work.
At present the hospital’s budget does not cover such cultural activities – which presents a great opportunity for Telenor to help.
Sunnaas Foundation has decided to contribute to the implementation of the Human Performance Laboratory Sunnaas Hospital HF. Thanks to the Sunnaas Foundation’s contribution, the hospital can give patients the opportunity to practice walking skills – and it can record exactly what the patient needs. This new equipment also allows new research in the field.
“Speaking Eyes”
Sunnaas Foundation wants to contribute to the project “Speaking Eyes”. Patients with brain stem stroke have no way to communicate other than with their eyes. An eyetracking mouse has been developed, which will be an invaluable tool for these patients. With eye tracking mice, patients can control a computer terminal by looking at different areas on the screen, and thus communicate. Patients can use e-mail, digital speech and writing.
Patient Terminals
A patient terminal is a small computer (PC) used by the most disabled people who are not able to move out of bed.
This enables them to do things like watching TV & Video, surfing the Internet and using e-mail to mention but a few. Access to such services from bed contributes to increased motivation and thus a shorter return to normal life. Investment in such equipment is impossible within the hospitals budget but thanks to external sponsors Sunnaas Foundation allocated 2 million in 2008 to the establishment of patient terminals at 30 beds in the department of Spinal cord injuries. Sunnaas Foundation would like that the patient terminals to be installed for use for most hospitalized patients, so that everyone gets information and communication possibilities.
The days may be long and patient terminals will provide patient access to e-mail, hospital information channels, internet, TV broadcasts, etc. The terminals have a touch screen and integrated telephone services based on IP technology.
Contact with the school and friends can be maintained, which can help the patients get better everyday. So far the terminals are a big success and the hope is that all patients can benefit from this initiative – even on the other clinics in Sunnaas.
A part of international cooperation and knowledge exchange is the idea to finance the stay of children and young people from those countries we work with. Sunnaas quite often gets requests to bring individuals to treatment from different countries, but quite often lack the necessary funding to facilitate this.
Sunnaas Rehabilitation hospital have international co-operation with rehabilitation hospitals in China, Israel/Palestine, Russia, USA and Cambodia.
“The support for the major achievements. Behind the performance we see in sports, one can a find comprehensive support system. Sunnaas rehabilitation hospital helps people who face challenges that require at least as much as we witnesses in sport. The care for the patient relies on close family and the staff at the hospital. Being in rehabilitation is often a long and personal struggle. It’s not about medals, but about quality of life and independence. Personal records are set at all times. Many of us can help to support people who fight for what we take for granted. We can help fellow human beings back to life. Sunnaas rehabilitation hospital and Sunnaas Foundation is worth our support!”
- Johan Olav Koss, Olympic Champion Speedskating
