In communal living, you will live in an accessible Heka rental apartment within a senior centre or a service home. You will pay rent for your apartment and pay separately for the services you need.
Your apartment has a toilet, a shower and a small kitchen area. You will furnish the apartment with your own furniture and textiles to make it a home that reflects your personal style.
You can participate in communal activities in the building and meet other residents.
Who is communal housing suitable for?
Communal housing may be right for you if:
- home-based services are no longer sufficient to meet your needs
- you need support to manage your daily life safely because of a memory disorder, for example
- you need more company and want to participate in group activities
How does communal housing work?
In communal housing, you pay separately for your accommodation and the services you need.
Tenancy is based on a tenancy agreement. You can furnish your apartment with your own furniture and textiles to make it a home that reflects your personal style.
As a resident, you can participate in communal activities at the senior centre or service home, such as exercise, cultural activities, and various group events.
Paid services provided in your rented home are planned in consultation with our staff to meet your needs.
Examples of the services include:
- home meal service
- grocery delivery service
- a safety phone and a safety bracelet
- cleaning services
- help with care and support
- help with medication
Read more about fees for senior services
How can I apply for communal housing?
If you’re wondering whether communal housing is right for you, discuss it with your designated worker. We can work out together whether this is the right option for you.
If you do not have a designated worker, please contact Senior Info. We will start by assessing your service needs and finding out what kind of assistance you need.
If communal housing is the right solution for you to tackle your housing challenges, we can start the application process together. We will gather the necessary information for the decision. You will receive a written notification of the decision.
You may be allocated a place in a communal housing unit if all of the following conditions are met:
- Your functional capacity has declined and you need more help than before to manage your daily life.
- Home-based help is no longer enough, but you do not yet need round-the-clock care.
- You understand instructions and are able to communicate with and operate together with the staff.
- You are mainly able to move independently, or you only need help from one person.
- You’ll be fine at night, provided monitoring visits and security arrangements are agreed on.
In addition, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:
You feel insecure or lonely.
You need regular company and things to do together.
You need a home that is accessible, or there are problems with your current home.
You are facing challenges with your housing, such as difficulties in paying your bills.
Further information: Applying for housing services for the elderly
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.