Norlandia Hoiva and Aberia, both part of the Norlandia Health & Care Group, have launched a joint project in the Äijälä district of Jyväskylä. On a single site, a 62-place residential care unit for the elderly and a 19-place group home for people with developmental disabilities will be constructed. The properties, due for completion in May 2027, are being built by Hoivarakentajat and will be owned by a fund managed by Northern Horizon.
Prime location and collaboration with the wellbeing services county were decisive factors
The Äijälä district of Jyväskylä is an excellent location for the new care homes. The site, sourced by Hoivarakentajat, offers an exceptionally convenient setting: within easy reach are services that future residents will need, including day activity centres, a school, nature trails, and a swimming beach. The decision to build was also influenced by a strong working relationship with the Wellbeing Services County of Central Finland.
– I am very pleased with our partnership with Hoivarakentajat. The Äijälä location is extremely well-suited to us – it benefits both elderly residents and clients of disability services alike. We are right next door to partners who enrich their daily lives, while also being close to nature, says Mira Ruusunen, Business Director of Care Housing at Norlandia and Aberia.
Two resident groups creating meaningful shared experiences
The concept behind the combined site is rooted in the idea of interaction between different resident groups. The proximity of the two units allows for shared staffing resources, catering services, and communal spaces – but above all, it creates a sense of belonging to a broader, more diverse community for residents.
The elderly care unit will offer 50 places for 24-hour care and 12 places for community housing, with a strong focus on maintaining residents' functional capacity and social participation. The communal spaces have been designed with flexibility in mind: rooms separated by retractable partition walls can accommodate larger family gatherings and events, as well as a variety of group activities – for example, dividing into different interest-based hobby groups according to residents' preferences.
A large outdoor area will also support socialising and outdoor activities, featuring dedicated relaxation zones for each resident group as well as ample space for walking and other physical activity.
Close collaboration, functional care buildings across Finland
In addition to the Jyväskylä projects, Hoivarakentajat is currently building three log-structured day care centres for Norlandia, located in Kurttila (Espoo), Rahola (Tampere), and Kangasala. Also under construction is Aberia's first group home for residents with developmental disabilities, located in Mikkeli – also built using log as the primary structural material.
– For us at Hoivarakentajat, close collaboration with our clients is extremely rewarding. By planning together, we find the best locations and property concepts for each resident and user group, says Jussi-Pekka Salmi, Project Development Director at Hoivarakentajat.
Dozens of new jobs coming to Jyväskylä
The project is expected to create 60–70 new jobs in the care sector in Jyväskylä. The facilities at the Äijälä site have been designed to support staff as well as residents: spatial solutions appropriately scaled to residents' needs make care work – including dementia care – more manageable and efficient.
Further information:
Jussi-Pekka Salmi, Project Development Director, Hoivarakentajat Oy
Tel. +358 400 304 336 | jussi-pekka.salmi@hoivarakentajat.fi
Mira Ruusunen, Business Director, Norlandia Hoiva
Tel. +358 50 476 8933 | mira.ruusunen@norlandia.fi
Aberia
Norlandia Hoiva
NHC Group
Northern Horizon
