The New Lihula Südamekodu Building Received Its Cornerstone and Celebrated the Topping-Out Ceremony

Lihula Südamekodu and construction company Tera Ehitus held a traditional topping-out ceremony for the new building and laid a symbolic cornerstone. The new building, modern and comfortable living environment, will form an integrated complex of three existing buildings by the end of the year. Once completed, Lihula Südamekodu will provide space for 92 elderly residents and 10 people with multiple disabilities who require special care.
The cornerstone was laid by Lääneranna municipality mayor Ingvar Saare, chairman of the Südamekodud supervisory board Martin Kukk, and Lihula Südamekodu manager Vanda Birnbaum. The topping-out wreath was lowered by Südamekodud board member Meelis Mälberg.
“There are many buildings in Lääneranna municipality that are in poor condition, and the care home buildings handed over to Südamekodud by the municipality were also outdated. For the municipality, it is an important step when a building gets a new look — it’s meaningful for everyone: residents, employees, and the elderly. Construction has now regained its momentum,” said Ingvar Saare, expressing hope that by the end of the year, care home residents will already enjoy better living conditions.
“We are very grateful to the municipality for trusting us to operate the care home since 2018. We are also deeply thankful to our residents and their families for their patience — the start of construction took longer than expected, but today we can say that thanks to Tera Ehitus, everything is progressing quickly and with quality. Construction is on schedule; the building structure is complete, and roofing and facade works are underway. In just a few months, residents will have new and modern living conditions,” added Martin Kukk, member of the supervisory board.
Lihula Südamekodu, established in 2001, is located in the town of Lihula in Pärnumaa County and provides both round-the-clock general care and specialized social services. Currently, the care home has 50 places and an additional 10 places on Pärna Street for people with multiple disabilities. On Oja Street, there are three family-type group homes providing 24-hour care for 30 people with mental and intellectual disabilities. Lihula Südamekodu also operates a day center for 13 people with special needs.
The Lihula Südamekodu extension will be completed in December 2023. The care home complex will expand by 1,400 m², offering a total of 92 general care places and 10 special care places for people with multiple disabilities. The new building will be constructed in the courtyard of the existing Lihula care home, connecting the current men’s and women’s wings while maintaining direct access to the family health center. Construction supervision is provided by Ösel Consulting OÜ. The total investment amounts to €2.4 million, including VAT.
Südamekodud is Estonia’s largest elderly care provider, operating 10 care homes across the country with over 700 residents and employing nearly 400 specialists. Südamekodud aims to create new living environments that are safe and comfortable for seniors to enjoy their later years with dignity.
Tera Ehitus OÜ is a subsidiary of the general contractor Tartu Ehitus AS, with nearly 30 years of construction experience, operating mainly in Western Estonia — including Pärnumaa, Läänemaa, Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, and other Estonian islands. Tera Ehitus provides comprehensive construction management, delivering high-quality, ready-to-use buildings and facilities.