perushoitoa

Perushoitoa is a Finnish term referring to basic care tasks performed to help people with daily living needs and basic health support. It is a foundational element of both informal and formal health and social care and is provided to people who are elderly, frail, ill, injured or otherwise unable to manage everyday activities independently. The core of perushoitoa includes assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing and personal hygiene, dressing, eating, mobility and transfers, continence management, and help with continence products when needed. It also covers practical support like meal planning and preparation, housekeeping, shopping, and medication reminders or administration under supervision, and monitoring of symptoms or changes in wellbeing, reporting to a nurse or physician as appropriate.

Care is delivered in various settings, including the patient’s home through home care services, in care homes, hospitals, and day service centers. Practitioners bring a person-centered approach, respecting privacy, dignity, and independence, and work as part of a multidisciplinary team. Training for workers typically includes basic nursing tasks, hygiene and infection control, safety and fall prevention, communication skills, and documentation. The goal is to preserve autonomy and comfort while ensuring safety, and to support more specialized medical or rehabilitation care when needed. Perushoitoa is not a substitute for clinical treatment but complements it as the everyday foundation of care.