Family care for older people
For clients whose functional capacity has reduced, we arrange family care either at their home or at the family carer’s.
The objective of family care is to support coping with everyday life at home.
Family care may be suitable for you if your functional capacity has deteriorated and you need guidance or support, a safe presence and joint activities to support your everyday life.
When assessing whether family care is suitable for you, we consider your need for assistance, functional capacity, personal preferences, and the family carer's ability to meet them. The decision to grant family care is based on an individual assessment of service needs.
A family carer is a private person who provides care like a family member. The family carer is not a social welfare and health care professional but has completed statutory preliminary training. In the training, we assess the person's aptitude for the task. The family carer concludes a commission agreement with the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County.
Family care always begins with a trial period so that both parties have time to consider whether they wish to continue the collaboration. Each family care client is designated an employee in charge.
Family carers cannot perform tasks that require nursing competence. For this reason, family care is not the right solution if your need for help primarily requires medical care or other intensive professional help, or if you have a regular need for assistance during the night.
This service is subject to a fee. In 2025, the following fees apply:
- Part-time family care for older people on a short-term basis (up to 8 hours): EUR 13/time
- Short-term family care, EUR 35.90/day
- As a statutory leave for an informal carer EUR 6.40/time (up to 8 hours) or EUR 12.80/day (over 8 hours)
- For long-term family care, you pay a fee in accordance with your monthly income, similarly as in 24-hour sheltered housing. The fee will not exceed 85% of your net monthly income.
No client fees are charged for long-term family care services from front-line veterans and disabled war veterans who have fought in Finland's wars.
Would you become a family caregiver for the elderly?
Our elderly clients need care and companionship in their own homes or family homes. As a family caregiver, you can bring support to an elderly person's life and joy to lonely days.
A person intending to become a family caregiver must complete the pre-training required for the role. (Family Care Act 263/2015 §6.) The training provides information about working as a family caregiver. Participating in pre-training does not yet commit to the role of a family caregiver.
A family caregiver/family home that has completed pre-training can be accepted as a partner of the Western Uusimaa welfare area based on the certificate received from the pre-training, an interview, and the final report of the assessment related to the training. The Western Uusimaa welfare area can offer family care pre-training to individuals whose municipality of residence is defined by the Home Municipality Act as Espoo, Hanko, Inkoo, Kauniainen, Karkkila, Kirkkonummi, Lohja, Raasepori, Siuntio, or Vihti.
Pre-coaching courses for family carers
The application period for family care coaching starting on 1.10.2025 has ended. The next pre-training for family care for the elderly will be held in spring 2026, more detailed information and dates will be announced later.
However, if you wish, you can fill in the application and submit it in advance, all those who have submitted the application will be contacted before the start of the next coaching.
More information
jonna.savaloja@luvn.fi
tel. 040 6466443