Around-the-clock service housing refers to living in a senior centre, a service home, or a private service home. You will be living in a one- or two-person apartment with a toilet and a bathroom. You will have access to the services you need in connection with your housing.
Who is 24-hour service housing suitable for?
24-hour service housing may be right for you if:
- support by home care is no longer sufficient
- you need 24-hour support to help you live safely day to day
How does 24-hour service housing work?
In 24-hour service housing, you pay rent as well as a monthly fee based on your net income, to cover the services included in the 24-hour service housing.
These services may include:
- the treatment and care you need
- activities that support your functional capacity, your participation and your social interaction
- meals
- laundry, clothes care, and cleaning
- washing
Your wellbeing is supported by health care assistants, nurses, care assistants, a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, a social instructor, and a culture instructor, for example.
You can furnish your apartment with your own furniture and textiles to make it a home that reflects your personal style.
How can I apply for 24-hour service housing?
If you think that 24-hour service housing might be a suitable option for you, you can contact Senior Info or speak to your designated worker. Together, we’ll work out whether this type of accommodation is the right choice for you.
First, we will carry out a service needs assessment with you to find out what kind of help and housing solution you need. If the assessment concludes that you require 24-hour service housing, we will begin the application process and gather the necessary information. Your application will be processed and you will receive a written decision.
You may be eligible to move into 24-hour service housing if:
- You need a lot of help every day, e.g. with getting dressed, washing, or taking your medication.
- Your functional capacity has decreased due to illness, a memory disorder, or some other reason.
- Your safety is at risk, e.g. because you might get lost, find yourself in dangerous situations, or be mistreated.
- You often have to spend short periods in hospital and need continuous care in between them as well.
- You are experiencing severe symptoms that are difficult to manage at home. These may include severe weight loss, intense anxiety, depression, delusions, or refusal of treatment, for example.
- Your behaviour is putting a strain on your environment, and it cannot be managed at home.
- Your informal caregivers no longer have the strength to cope, even with support.
If you meet the criteria for 24-hour service housing, you may be offered a place in one of the City’s own facilities or in a private service home. You can find the City’s housing units at the bottom of this page.
You can also receive a service voucher, which you can use to access service housing provided by private companies approved by the City. You can find these units on the palse.fi website(Link leads to external service) (in Finnish). Select ‘Helsinki Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division’ as the granting party of the service, and ‘service housing for the elderly’ as the service.
Further information: Applying for housing services for the elderly
Further information: Service Housing Service Voucher Calculator
How to get in touch with Senior Info
You can contact us by phone, email, chat or by coming to have a chat in person.
The telephone service is open on weekdays at 9.00–15.00.
Call +358 9 310 44556(Link starts a phone call)
If the line is busy, please listen to the recording until the end. We will call you back on the next working day at the latest.
The call is subject to normal telephone charges. If you are calling from an international number, the call-back service is not available.
Please email us at seniori.info@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program)
The email is not secure, so please do not include any personal identification details in your message.
Chat with a professional during opening hours. The chat window is located at the bottom of this page.
The chat is open
- Mon–Wed 9.00–15.00
- Thu 9–10 and 11.30–15.00
- Fri 9.00–15.00
You can visit the Senior Info office at Siltasaarenkatu 2, 00530 Helsinki.
We are open on weekdays from 9.00 to 15.00.
If you have a hearing impairment or are unable to speak, you can contact Senior Info by email or via chat. You can also use an interpreter to contact us by telephone or visit our service centre.