Short-term care for the elderly

What does short-term care mean?

You will stay at a short-term care facility run by the City or a private one for an agreed period. During that period, you will participate in the unit’s activities and day-to-day life according to your resources and wishes. The treatment aims to support your everyday skills and your functional capacity.

How long does the short-term care period last?

The duration of a short-term care period is determined by your individual need for treatment. The treatment period may take place once or at regular intervals. Short-term care can also be provided on a part-time basis, for example as day care or night care.

How can I apply for short-term care?

If you are already using the City’s senior services (such as informal care or home care), discuss the possibility of short-term care with your personal care worker or home care staff. If you do not yet receive senior services, please contact Senior Info. You can find the contact details at the bottom of this page.

How much does short-term care cost?

Short-term care is subject to a fee. The fee depends on several factors, including:

• whether the care provided is round-the-clock or part-time
• whether the care is provided in a care home or in a service housing facility
• whether the care replaces the statutory days off for an informal caregiver.

Find out more about the prices on the payments page

As a recipient of informal care support, you can also receive a service voucher which can be used to purchase short-term care from private companies approved by the City.

These companies can be found in the palse.fi service (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service). Select ‘Helsinki Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division’ as the granting party of the service, and ‘short-term around-the-clock care in a care unit provided by support for informal care for the elderly’ as the service.

Short-term care is not the only option during the statutory days off for informal caregivers. Substitute care, family care, day activities, and at-home treatment provided via a service voucher are also available.

Read more:

Care options during the caregiver’s statutory leave days

What should I bring with me for the short-term care period?

Personal documents

• Up-to-date medication list
• ID card or other form of identification

Medicines

• All your regular medicines and any medicines you may need to take, in their original packaging or in dose dispensing bags
• Diabetes supplies, wound care supplies, or other medical supplies, if you use them

Clothing and footwear

• Comfortable indoor and outdoor clothing that can be washed at 40 degrees
• Sturdy indoor and outdoor shoes
• Nightwear
• Enough changes of clothes

Don’t forget to label all your clothes!

Toiletries

• Personal care and hygiene products and protective products
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Comb
• Shaving equipment
• Any skincare products

Assistive equipment

• Glasses, hearing aids and their batteries
• Mobility aids you use on a daily basis (e.g. a walker or walking stick)

Other necessary items

• Phone and charger
• A small amount of cash, if you want to visit the café, for example
• You can also bring your own magazines or books, for example. 

It is advisable to leave valuables, such as jewellery and expensive electronic devices, as well as your security wristband, at home.