Elderly individuals face long wait times for care in Finland as facilities remain full

Nearly 2,500 elderly individuals are currently waiting for around-the-clock care across Finland, as local welfare areas find their facilities fully occupied. When a spot opens up, it is immediately filled. While private care companies have availability, welfare areas tend to prioritize their own facilities.

The longest waiting lists for continuous care are found in North Savo, Pirkanmaa, Varsinais-Suomi, South Karelia, and Ostrobothnia. According to Mikko Korhonen, head of operations for the North Savo welfare area, the waiting times are regrettably long, but an initiative is underway to improve the situation over the winter by integrating communal living into the service system.

Riina Luukinen, interim director of the welfare area in Satakunta, noted that waiting individuals are primarily placed in local facilities, as the area’s financial situation affects how external services are utilized. “Financial pressures are significant right now, and we are monitoring waiting times closely to react promptly,” she stated.

Notably, private companies like Attendo currently have about 1,200 openings nationwide, while Esperi Care has around 400. Attendo’s sales manager, Iina Vartia, mentioned that the freedom of spots is largely due to welfare areas not placing new residents.

Furthermore, the situation has escalated this year with regions delaying placements, particularly in Satakunta and South Savo, where only a few placements have been made despite the capacity to accommodate more residents. In August, the Pirkanmaa welfare area changed its placement policy following intervention from the Parliamentary Ombudsman, which revealed non-compliance with laws regarding urgent access to care.

According to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, by the end of 2023, there were 20,309 public sector clients in continuous care, alongside 25,511 in the private sector. HALI’s chief economist, Joel Kuuva, estimates that private providers are nearing a 90% occupancy rate, indicating around 3,500 available spots. However, acquiring precise data remains challenging, as firms often keep their figures confidential.