Open House at Piigaste Südamekodu Brought Together Relatives, Social Workers, and Community Members

Located in Piigaste Manor in Kanepi municipality, Põlva County, the Südamekodu care home has been home to nearly 50 elderly residents for three years. The supportive staff, the manor’s cozy atmosphere, and its scenic park make Piigaste Südamekodu a truly fulfilling living environment for enjoying one’s later years — confirmed both by residents relaxing on the veranda enjoying the park view and their companions’ music, as well as by visitors impressed by the home’s warm atmosphere.
Piigaste Südamekodu is situated in a quiet, nature-rich area with good connections to Põlva, Tartu, Võru, and Otepää. The manor, with its walking paths and gazebos, offers a pleasant setting for both residents and their visiting loved ones. The manor garden is full of pear trees, and in the surrounding park lives a small flock of sheep — a joyful sight for the residents. Picturesque views stretch across the rose garden and the gently rolling hills typical of the area.
In addition to presenting the surroundings, the home’s manager Ester Paap gave visitors a look into the daily life and rhythm of the care home during an open house event. Especially cherished are the days when volunteer companion Liivia Vaas visits — during her introduction, she encouraged others to enrich their own lives by bringing joy to seniors through volunteering.
The discussion about Südamekodud homes across Estonia and the upcoming care reform effective from July 1 was led by Südamekodud supervisory board member Martin Kukk. Together, attendees discussed all the known updates related to the reform. Particular attention was paid to the availability of care home places and the changing funding model, where participants were shown how the share of personal co-payment will decrease and how the cost of care will be divided between the resident and the local municipality.
The conversation also covered the new quality standards and minimum staffing levels for care homes introduced by the reform, which aim to equalize service quality, reduce employee workload, and ensure more individual attention for each resident. According to Martin Kukk, while these improvements make it possible to hire more care staff and increase salaries more quickly, the sector will still face a significant labor shortage in the coming years. Currently, both Piigaste Südamekodu and other homes in Estonia have received valuable support from Ukrainian war refugees, yet the care sector as a whole still urgently needs more foreign workforce. Additional helping hands are already welcome in nearly every Südamekodu home.
The reform also introduces additional funding for home care services aimed at supporting elderly people who can still manage daily activities at home but need some extra assistance. Martin Kukk noted that expanding this still relatively rare service in Estonia will allow seniors to live as long as possible where they feel most comfortable — at home. The most suitable form of care is determined by a local government social worker, who assesses the senior’s needs and decides whether round-the-clock or home care is more appropriate.