Iceland plans major expansion of nursing home places in north

Construction of new nursing homes in northern Iceland is moving forward, with Reitir’s bid accepted for a facility at Þursaholt in Akureyri and work under way on another at Auðbrekka in Húsavík, mbl.is reports. The projects are expected to significantly increase nursing home capacity and improve facilities in the region.

The government’s plan calls for more than 1,500 nursing home places to be brought into use by the end of 2030, according to a statement from the Government of Iceland.

Akureyri facility expanded to 140 places

The Akureyri nursing home was initially planned to have 80 places, but that number was later increased to 140. The facility will cover about 9,100 square metres and is expected to be built within 15 months.

Húsavík project resumes after years of delays

The project in Norðurþing municipality has a longer history. The foundation stone for a new nursing home at Auðbrekka 2 in Húsavík was laid in 2021, and excavation for the foundation was completed. However, construction of the home did not proceed.

“The project had been stalled for years, and the pit where the home was supposed to be built had stood empty for years. We ended that standstill,” Social Affairs and Housing Minister Inga Sæland said in the statement.

The new Húsavík facility is expected to be completed within 12 months, which the government described as a particularly short construction period given the scale of the project. Pekron ehf. will build the home.

It will have 60 nursing home places. All 54 residents of Hvammur nursing home in Húsavík are expected to move there when the new facility opens. The new home will replace the older one, increasing the total number of nursing home places in the municipality by six.