Foster parents caring for seven teens highlight shortages and daily challenges in Finland

A couple in Tuusula, Finland, are caring for seven foster teenagers at home, showing the realities of family-based care for older children as a new child protection law aims to clarify how boundaries can be set in foster placements. Yle reports that Päivi and Timo Pajala, who have 10 biological and stepchildren between them, became foster parents after their own children moved out, and now look after seven adolescents aged 13 to 18 in their house.

The shortage of foster homes is particularly acute for school-aged children and teenagers. In 2025, 24 percent of 13- to 17-year-olds taken into care in the Uusimaa region were placed in families, while the national average for all ages was 32 percent, according to the article.

The Pajalas describe their daily routine as centered around school pickups, meal preparation, and extracurricular activities. Timo Pajala usually cooks, while Päivi Pajala handles shopping. On the day of the interview, lasagne was being prepared for nine people. Each teenager has their own room upstairs.

The couple say the work requires strong interpersonal skills, and that their blended family background helped prepare them for the role. Timo Pajala transitioned to full-time foster care after losing his job three years ago, calling it his “retirement job.”

Challenges include managing schoolwork, setting limits on nicotine and alcohol use, and maintaining contact between the teens and their biological parents. The Pajalas note that foster parents must be ready to open their home to the children’s biological families, which often includes grandparents and other relatives.

They also stress that foster parents need more support from the employer, the social services of the wellbeing services county responsible for placements. According to Päivi Pajala, teenagers do not always evoke the same care instinct in people as babies and small children do, which can affect the willingness to take on older foster children.

A new child protection law currently under preparation is intended to clarify how limits and rules can be set for young people in family-based care.