Personal Assistance in Sweden and Norway: From Difference to Convergence?

Within the same welfare state model, Norway and Sweden have established very different models for personal assistance. Sweden has developed a model with a strong consumerist profile with extensive rights and choices for users. In Norway, state control of the arrangement has been stronger. Users' rights have been weaker and decisions are left to the discretion of the professionals in the welfare services. Recent political signals in both countries indicate that the models might converge in the future. In Sweden, authorities are worried that users' rights have become too extensive. Efforts have been made to restrict users' rights and to make public control stronger. In Norway, the target group for the arrangement has been extended and stronger individual rights to obtain personal assistance are proposed. The article will clarify the tendencies in the two countries and discuss the consequences - for the arrangement and for the users' control over their assistance.