Ylitornio care home to close, leaving three alternatives

The Lapland wellbeing services county will close Ylitornio’s care home, but older people will still have three other options for round-the-clock residential care in the municipality, Yle reports.

The county’s regional council decided on Monday to shut the facility. The move affects 12 long-term residents and four older people who receive short-term respite care there.

The remaining options are Laurinranta, a county-run care unit, and two privately run care homes: Attendo Katajahovi and Mainiokoti Lantonvainio. The county will first direct residents to Laurinranta, while also offering service vouchers that can be used at the private homes. Some residents have already said where they would prefer to move, said Anne Mattila, a manager for the county’s older people’s housing services.

The closure also affects 18 employees. The county has offered them jobs in Ylitornio, Pello or Karunki in Tornio, Mattila said.

The county says the decision is intended to save money. The four care homes in Ylitornio have had more places than residents, Mattila said. Even after the closure, about 10 places are expected to remain vacant at Laurinranta, with six or seven empty places across the private homes.

Residents are expected to move before the end of the year. The county has held preliminary discussions with residents and their families about their preferred options.