Pirkanmaa care homes warn communal housing serves too-ill seniors

s being used for seniors who would require round-the-clock care, under Pirha's eligibility rules that are stricter than the national average. The leaders warn that the provision is bridging between home care and full-time care, and the criteria are making it difficult for truly in-need seniors to access proper services

Koivupirtin's chief executive Johanna Santaniemi says there are at least four residents who would need 24‑hour care but will not receive it because they sleep at night, a situation she says highlights how the current system pushes people toward communal housing too late. YLE notes that the problem starts at home care, where there are extremely frail clients and the community-based criteria remain hard to meet; Santaniemi adds that many seniors reach communal housing only when they are already at risk

Sirpa Pursiainen-Hautala of Elämänpuu expresses concern that the arrangement may be driven by cost considerations, wondering if savings are being sought by avoiding 24/7 care. YLE also reports that many communal housing residents cannot exit their homes independently in emergencies, and night-time visits from Pirha are rare, leaving the elderly vulnerable. Lahti of Viola-koti emphasizes ongoing safety challenges, including residents who leave their apartments at night and the installation of alarm systems to mitigate the risk

Tuula Jutila of Pirha insists that the region does not use communal housing as a tool for savings and that there is a statutory obligation to provide appropriate services; she says communal housing is not supposed to be used for cost-cutting. Jutila adds that moving to a new environment can temporarily lower an elder’s functioning, underscoring the importance of skilled care, and that if safety risks are identified, the situation should be reevaluated with customer guidance. Pirha notes that communal housing began in 2023 as a alternative to service housing, and that transitions to full-time care or hospital care typically follow when the residents’ needs rise, with staff assessments guiding the next steps