Finland Times

 

File Photo Lehtikuva.

The Finnish War Veterans’ Association has called for more fund allocations for veterans’ rehabilitation.

 

The current budget, according to the association, is too small to enable municipalities to provide enough services to cater for veteran rehabilitation needs.

 

Veterans are increasingly in need of rehabilitation in their own homes, pointed out the association. Last year, around 65 per cent of the veterans participated in rehabilitation programmes. It is estimated that the percentage could increase to more than 70, if more funds are made available.

 

“We want to remind the decision-makers that war veterans are a special group in our elderly population and that they should get the special benefits they are entitled to,” said Finn-Göran Wennström, the chair of the Finnish War Veterans’ Association.

 

There are around 30,000 war veterans in the country. Their average age is close to 90 years and most of them live in their homes.