Livsglede for Eldre

Livsglede for Eldre (LFE) is a Norwegian private foundation (stiftelse) working in the field of elderly care. It was established in 2005 by two nursing students at Høgskolen i Agder, Annette Skeie Jakobsen and Elin Anita Verdal, both from Kristiansand. Their aim was to add more joy of life (livsglede) to the everyday lives of older people and to act as a supplement to the public elderly care services. LFE works with development and innovation in volunteering, education and service development within elderly care. The foundation owns and operates the national certification scheme Livsgledesykehjem, which was renamed Livsgledehjem in 2017. Today this scheme functions as a national standard for person-centred care that systematically addresses the individual psychosocial needs of nursing home residents. In its early years, LFE's activity consisted mainly of larger joint events for the elderly, based on voluntary effort and contributions from the business community. On 13 August 2007, LFE was formally established as a foundation, by which time 11 local associations had been set up across Norway. In 2008, LFE, through Sigrid Moum, started a pilot project in cooperation with Trondheim municipality, which resulted in the national certification scheme Livsgledesykehjem. In 2012, Livsgledehjem was mentioned as one of five main strategies for increased volunteering in Norway, and it is referred to in Stortingsmelding 19 (a Norwegian government white paper) as an instrument "to strengthen active care and put social and cultural needs at the centre". LFE is now a nationwide organisation active in volunteering, intergenerational meetings and care. LFE also aims to help increase recruitment to care professions and works for meetings between generations from kindergarten age onwards. Lower secondary schools can use the livsglede approach in the elective subject Innsats for andre (Effort for others). LFE further aims for livsglede to be a theme in teaching at upper secondary schools, colleges and universities with health-related programmes. LFE has developed its own cooperation concepts with both schools and kindergartens, and has local associations linked to several colleges, consisting of students who organise various events. The foundation also runs a web shop (Nettbutikk) and organises the Livsgledekonferansen conference, with the next edition promoted as Livsgledekonferansen 2027. It communicates through Facebook, X and Instagram, and offers a supporter programme called Livsgledesupporter. Its activities are documented through news items on its website, including cooperation with Asker municipality and a partnership with Sang i eldreomsorgen on using song and music in care work.

Livsglede for Eldre (LFE) was founded in 2005 by Annette Skeie Jakobsen and Elin Anita Verdal, two nursing students at Høgskolen i Agder from Kristiansand. Their goal was to bring more joy of life (livsglede) into the everyday lives of the elderly and to serve as a supplement to the public elderly care services. In the beginning, LFE's activity consisted mainly of larger joint events for the elderly, based on voluntary effort and contributions from the business community. On 13 August 2007, LFE was formally established as a foundation (stiftelse). By that time, 11 local associations had been established across Norway. In 2008, LFE, through Sigrid Moum, started a pilot project in cooperation with Trondheim municipality. This project resulted in the national certification scheme Livsgledesykehjem. The scheme was renamed Livsgledehjem in 2017 and today functions as a national standard for person-centred care that systematically addresses the individual psychosocial needs of nursing home residents. In 2012, Livsgledehjem was mentioned as one of five main strategies for increased volunteering in Norway, and it is referred to in Stortingsmelding 19 as an instrument "to strengthen active care and put social and cultural needs at the centre". LFE has since grown into a nationwide organisation active in volunteering, intergenerational meetings and care. LFE also works to increase recruitment to care professions and promotes meetings between generations from kindergarten age onwards. Lower secondary schools can use the livsglede approach in the elective subject Innsats for andre. LFE aims for livsglede to be a theme in teaching at upper secondary schools, colleges and universities with health-related programmes, and has developed cooperation concepts with both schools and kindergartens. It also has local associations linked to several colleges, consisting of students who organise various events. In 2010, on the initiative of singer Torstein Sødal, the Livsgledekoret choir "Stayin' alive" was developed in cooperation with LFE, consisting of pensioners from Kristiansand. The choir was discontinued in 2015. Today LFE operates the Livsgledehjem certification scheme, organises the Livsgledekonferansen conference (with the 2027 edition promoted), runs an online shop, and offers a supporter programme called Livsgledesupporter. It communicates through Facebook, X and Instagram, and its website features news about cooperation with municipalities such as Asker and partnerships such as the one with Sang i eldreomsorgen on using song and music in care work.

• 2026

  News items highlight cooperation with Asker municipality, Eldreuka 2026 webinars, and a partnership with Sang i eldreomsorgen on song in care work.

• 2017

  The certification scheme Livsgledesykehjem is renamed Livsgledehjem.

• 2015

  The Livsgledekoret choir "Stayin' alive" is discontinued.

• 2012

  Livsgledehjem is mentioned as one of five main strategies for increased volunteering in Norway and is referred to in Stortingsmelding 19.

• 2010

  The Livsgledekoret choir "Stayin' alive" is developed on the initiative of singer Torstein Sødal in cooperation with LFE.

• 2008

  LFE, through Sigrid Moum, starts a pilot project with Trondheim municipality that results in the national certification scheme Livsgledesykehjem.

• 2007

  On 13 August, LFE is formally established as a foundation (stiftelse); by then 11 local associations exist across Norway.

• 2005

  Livsglede for Eldre is founded by Annette Skeie Jakobsen and Elin Anita Verdal, two nursing students at Høgskolen i Agder.

A non-profit foundation acting as a supplement to public elderly care, promoting joy of life and person-centred care through certification, volunteering and education.

• Livsgledehjem certification scheme

  National standard for person-centred care that systematically addresses the individual psychosocial needs of nursing home residents. Formerly known as Livsgledesykehjem until 2017.

• Livsgledekonferansen

  Conference organised by LFE; the 2027 edition is promoted on the website.

• Livsgledesupporter

  Supporter programme offering real stories from the elderly, small moments that make a difference, and insight into LFE's work.

• Nettbutikk (online shop)

  Online shop operated by LFE.

1. 1Forside - Livsglede for Eldrelivsgledeforeldre.no
2. 2Livsglede for Eldre - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Livsglede for Eldre - Wikipedia (Norwegian)no.wikipedia.org