Institutional care for the elderly

If it’s not possible to arrange 24-hour care at home or in sheltered housing, we provide institutional care for the elderly through a separate decision.

You may live in institutional care if the housing support you need cannot be arranged around the clock at home or in sheltered housing. Your service needs will be assessed by identifying your functional ability and state of health as well as other factors related to your need for 24-hour care. The decision on institutional care is made on the basis of your health and safety. Your institutional care includes the necessary care, rehabilitation and medical care, but also meals, medication, medical services, essential dental care, hygiene and care supplies, clothing and laundry. The institutional care also includes transportation when it is part of your care. You have the opportunity to participate in common activities for the residents. Housing is included in your service. You will be living in a pre-furnished room for one or multiple people. The washrooms and toilets may be shared by several residents. You may need to change rooms during your stay. During your stay in institutional care, we will support and promote your well-being, safety and good quality of life. Close family members/persons and the personnel cooperate in your care and rehabilitation. As a rule, you are allowed to live in institutional care for the remainder of your life. Institutional care is organised by both public and private service providers. Housing services for the elderly are gradually abandoning social welfare institutional care and moving towards more individualised, more up-to-date service housing, where the elderly live in their own dwellings or in single or double rooms in a group home. Social welfare institutional care is abandoning long-term housing by 2027.

Conditions for receiving the Service

According to Section 14a of the Elderly Services Act, a wellbeing services county can provide long-term care and attention in the form of institutional care to suit the elderly person's service needs only if there are medical grounds for doing so, or if it is otherwise justified to ensure safe care for the client/patient. The decision on the service can also be made as per Section 67 of the Health Care Act.

The service is subject to a charge.