Personal assistance is help provided by another person in accordance with the needs and wishes of a person with a disability. A personal assistant helps you with activities that you would do yourself but cannot do due to your disability or illness. You can receive help from a personal assistant with everyday activities such as moving around, dressing, taking care of hygiene, cleaning, running erra ...
Access to disability services is based on an individual assessment of the need for services. New clients are referred to disability services through the client and service counselling Soihtu or the client and service counselling for the elderly.
The assessment of the need for services first evaluates the suitability and adequacy of the services in accordance with the Social Welfare Act. After that, the need for services in accordance with the Disability Services Act is assessed.
If you are applying for disability services for the first time and are under 65 years of age, contact the Soihtu Team in your municipality by phone, via Varha App or fill in the form: Ilmoitus/yhteydenotto sosiaalihuoltoon tuen tarpeen arvioimiseksi (huoli-ilmoitus).
If you are over 65 years old, you can contact the client and service counselling for the elderly. The customer helpline for services for the elderly is available on weekdays in Finnish on 02 313 2100 (9-15) and in Swedish on 02 313 2100 (9-15).
If you are already a client of Varha’s Disability Services and you are applying for a new service or a change to an existing service, you can contact your designated Disability Services employee or fill in the Disability Services application form. The Disability Service Application is for existing clients of the disability services.
If you don't know who to contact, you can contact the disability services office or disability services counsellor in your area. The disability services in the wellbeing services county of Southwest Finland can provide you with help and advice on applying for the service.
When you apply, please attach a medical report or statement describing your current state of health, how you function and what kind of help you need in everyday situations. The best way to support your assessment is to get a statement from a care provider who knows your situation best. This should be as recent as possible, no more than a year old. If necessary, a disability services worker will advise you on how to provide health information.
You can receive special services under the Disability Services Act if you have a long-term and permanent illness, impairment or disability that means you absolutely need support and assistance with your daily activities. These services and support measures are provided to you if you do not receive sufficient and appropriate services under any other law. Disability services are intended to complement other social services and health and medical services.
You can receive personal assistance if, due to your illness, disability or impairment, you absolutely need the help of another person to manage everyday activities, work, study, socializing, leisure or social participation. You must be able to tell the person what personal assistance you need with or without support and be able to guide the person who helps you. The service is provided on the basis of an individual assessment of your needs. A written decision must always be made, with instructions on how to appeal.
A person with a disability may be eligible for personal assistance if they need help from another person:
The purpose of personal assistance is that the disabled person`s self-determination is fulfilled equally also in the situations when the person needs help from another person. The prerequisite for personal assistance is that the person with a disability is able to express what kind of assistance they want. However, the person does not have to do this alone.
Disability Services Act