Hotel turns one floor into homes for older people in Varkaus

Hotel Oscar in Varkaus has converted one floor into communal housing for older people, Yle reports. The arrangement offers residents private apartments, shared spaces and daily meals in a hotel setting.

Pirjo Hukkanen, one of the residents, moved into room 231 in July. She previously lived alone in a tower block and says the hotel has given her more company.

“I slept well on the very first night. This already feels like home,” Hukkanen says.

Her approximately 20-square-metre room includes a hotel bed, a kitchenette and furniture brought from her previous home. Residents can also use a shared space created from a former suite, which includes a sauna.

The communal housing is intended for people who can no longer manage fully on their own but do not need round-the-clock care under the criteria of the regional wellbeing services counties.

Six residents and more on the waiting list

North Savonia Wellbeing Services County has provided communal housing at Hotel Oscar since July. Twelve rooms have been renovated into studios and two-room apartments with small kitchenettes.

A studio costs 650 euros a month, while a two-room apartment intended for couples costs 1,100 euros. Rent includes electricity, water, heating and use of the shared facilities. Care services are provided separately by the wellbeing services county, with home-care fees based on income.

Six older people currently live at the hotel, and new residents are on a waiting list. Studios are particularly sought after. The wellbeing services county and the hotel are negotiating the renovation of additional rooms. Up to three floors could eventually be used for communal housing.

Hotel manager Heidi Sarkeala says the idea came from the hotel, where demand for overnight stays is no longer as high as before. Hotel Oscar has more than 160 rooms in three buildings, and many remain empty outside the busiest periods.

Meals prepared in the hotel kitchen

Shared mealtimes are part of the housing arrangement. The residents eat lunch together every day and often have breakfast, dinner and an evening meal at the same table.

The meals are prepared in the hotel’s kitchen. The menu consists of varied home-style food, including soups, porridge, fried potato dishes and creamy pasta. Care workers bring the meals to the residents’ floor rather than serving them in the hotel restaurant.

Communal housing for older people is becoming more common in Finland. Wellbeing services counties want to reduce the use of expensive round-the-clock care and increase communal housing. At least 10,000 new places are planned in the coming years.