Finland’s second-largest welfare region halts new placements at private care home over deficiencies

The Southwest Finland Welfare Region has suspended new resident placements at Parkinmäki Service House, a private elderly care facility in Turku, following inspections that revealed serious shortcomings, Yle reports.

Inspections conducted in late February and early March identified deficiencies in staffing levels, nutrition, outdoor activities, and the use of restrictive measures, according to Eeva-Sirkku Pöyhönen, director of elderly services at the welfare region.

The decision follows complaints received by the Finnish Licensing and Supervision Authority (Valvira), prompting the welfare region to request clarification from the service provider. “We found their responses insufficient,” Pöyhönen said, explaining the placement freeze until corrective actions are taken.

Currently, 101 elderly residents live in the facility, with an additional 13 in communal housing operated by the same provider.

A report published Tuesday by Ilta-Sanomat highlighted ongoing staff shortages at Parkinmäki, though the facility’s CEO claimed staffing levels were adequate and denied knowledge of employees working double shifts.