Institutional care is currently available at the Kivelä, Kustaankartano and Koskela senior centres in Helsinki. In total, there are around 440 residents in institutional care.
“Up until late 2025, it looked as if we would not reach the 2027 deadline, but the situation has since evolved. We will be able to phase out a large part of institutional care already in 2026," says Director of Senior Centres Maritta Haavisto.
The Act on Care Services for Older Persons requires Helsinki to discontinue institutional care. Most of the 24-hour care for the elderly in Helsinki is already provided through 24-hour service housing.
Institutional care phased out in Kivelä and Kustaankartano senior centres first, Koskela to follow
The institutional care clients of Kustaankartano and Kivelä will move to 24-hour service housing already in spring 2026. In Koskela, institutional care will be phased out when the new senior centre is completed in autumn 2027.
The change will primarily affect how the client fee for 24-hour service housing is determined and what services it covers.
“The client fee always includes 24-hour care according to individual needs, food, cleaning, laundry and activities to promote functional capacity and social interaction, for example,” Haavisto says.
In service housing, clients sign a rental contract with the City and pay for their own medication, health care, transport and hairdressing services, for example.
“The aim is to offer residents a cosier, calm living environment and strengthen their self-determination,” Haavisto says.
Kivelä institutional care facilities to be vacated – temporary accommodation for residents in Oulunkylä
The premises of the Kivelä Senior Centre will be vacated, as they no longer meet the requirements for long-term, 24-hour care and renovating the facilities is not a viable option. Residents of long-term housing will be moving to temporary accommodation in Oulunkylä. The Kustaankartano Senior Centre is located on the same plot.
“We understand that the changes may raise questions. We will organise information sessions in Kivelä and Kustaankartano in the spring. Clients can turn to social instructors if they have any questions, and support and information will be available," Haavisto says.
The move is also partly due to delays in the City centre senior centre project.
