Services for a patient’s family members
In Brief
Are you a relative of a patient with mental health issues or substance abuse problems? Are you a family member of a child with disabilities? Do you provide care and need respite?
Healthcare personnel are required to offer services specifically for relatives.
Description
Healthcare personnel are bound by confidentiality, but you still have the right to receive information about:
• Contact details for healthcare services
• Procedures, staff, and available services
• Opportunities to apply for assistive devices, welfare technology, etc.
• Legislation, case processing, and rights
• Services for relatives, both children and adults
• Information on user and caregiver organizations Patients over the age of 16 must consent before relatives can receive information about their health status. The same applies to access to their medical records. If the patient has given consent, you, as the closest relative, can receive information about their health condition, diagnosis, and treatment prospects. The patient may also choose to share only specific information. In some cases, the situation itself may warrant informing relatives even if prior consent has not been given. For patients who are unable to safeguard their own interests, the closest relatives have the right to be informed. Municipal services such as practical assistance and welfare technology (e.g., alarm systems and tracking devices) can provide respite for caregivers. Respite measures are free of charge. The municipality cannot require co-payment for respite care. This also applies to practical assistance, day center services, or short-term stays in institutions—services that would otherwise require a co-payment. If you have demanding caregiving responsibilities, such as caring for a spouse or child, you can apply for a caregiver allowance from the municipality.
Regulations
This is a statutory service.See in particular helse- og omsorgstjenesteloven § 3-6 Kommunens ansvar overfor pårørende.
Laws
2025 KF (Kommuneforlaget AS), Oslo, KF Tjenestekatalog.
Tjenestebeskrivelsene i KF Tjenestekatalog viser lovpålagte kommunale tjenester til innbyggere og næring. Beskrivelsene blir oppdatert fortløpende ved endringer i lover og sentrale forskrifter.
Tjenestebeskrivelsen er automatisk oppdatert 27.02.2025
Sist oppdatert