A new care home for 120 residents, specially built for the elderly, has opened in Tartu. Located next to the Estonian National Museum, Tartu Südamekodu is the group’s twelfth care home. In the coming months, 120 seniors from Tartu and nearby areas will move in, with rooms for an additional 60 people to be added soon. 

The total investment for the first phase of the project, developed in cooperation with EfTEN Real Estate Fund AS, was approximately 5.3 million euros plus VAT. The building was constructed by AS Tartu Ehitus. Over six years, Südamekodud have built more than 700 new care home places across Estonia and made investment decisions for another 400. 

The new Tartu Südamekodu was officially opened together with residents, their families and partners by Kristjan Tamla from Eften Capital, Tartu Deputy Mayor Reno Laidre, Tartu Municipality Mayor Jarno Laur, Alar Loo from AS Tartu Ehitus, Chairman of the Board of Südamekodud Martin Kukk, and Tartu Südamekodu Manager Kairi Ustav.

The new Tartu Südamekodu was officially opened together with residents, their families and partners by Kristjan Tamla from Eften Capital, Tartu Deputy Mayor Reno Laidre, Tartu Municipality Mayor Jarno Laur, Alar Loo from AS Tartu Ehitus, Chairman of the Board of Südamekodud Martin Kukk, and Tartu Südamekodu Manager Kairi Ustav.

According to Eften Capital CEO Kristjan Tamla, in real estate there are three key things: location, location, and location. “In most cases, it’s people that give a place its value. A year ago, the surroundings here looked completely different – and today we can already see that people are drawn to this area,” said Tamla, adding that during the construction of Tartu Südamekodu something rare happened: the builder completed the building ahead of schedule and within budget. “For that, a big thank you to the construction team.”

According to Martin Kukk, Chairman of the Board of Südamekodud, the new Tartu Südamekodu is a great example of what a modern care home should be, both in terms of functionality and its place within the community. “Tartu Südamekodu has been built with the needs of the elderly in mind, offering a diverse living environment, meaningful activities for all residents, and modern, supportive working conditions for the staff. Located on the edge of the city, near a new residential area and the Estonian National Museum, it provides convenient access for both relatives and employees,” said Kukk.

“New care homes are not opened in Estonia every day – the opening of Tartu Südamekodu is a celebration for the whole country,” said Tartu Municipality Mayor Jarno Laur. “For our municipality, this day marks a valuable experience – it’s our first project in cooperation between the private sector and local government. Tartu municipality has contributed to this project not only with heart but also with land. I believe our experience will encourage future partnerships like this. The demand for such services in this area continues to grow.”

With the opening of Tartu Südamekodu, several important new care places have been added

Manager Kairi Ustav confirmed the strong interest in the new home. “The new building is attractive and full of space – in the first phase, we can accommodate 120 residents, some of whom have already moved in,” said Kairi Ustav. “The home has bright foyers, an open kitchen, a café, a large inner courtyard, and various communal spaces for spending time with loved ones. Privacy and quiet spaces have also been created. Our residents can choose between single and double rooms – both have their advantages and are equally popular,” she added.

“People grow old – that’s a law of nature we cannot change. But we can provide high-quality care services for people in their later years,” said Tartu Deputy Mayor Reno Laidre. “I’m glad that a new care home is opening right next to the city, in Tartu municipality. Many people live in this area, and the demand for such services was already high before the care reform – and has grown even more since. The cooperation with Tartu city and the proximity of the hospital and healthcare services will definitely help create a safe and pleasant environment in this new building.”

According to Alar Loo, CEO of AS Tartu Ehitus, they are pleased to have once again collaborated with Südamekodud AS. “It’s wonderful that through this cooperation we’ve helped create modern and comfortable living conditions for the elderly in our region. The newly completed Tartu Südamekodu stands out not only for its modern design and senior-friendly solutions but also for its location – the building is cleverly positioned near preserved caponiers, creating a cozy and private atmosphere.”

The care home building will be completed in stages. In the first phase, the main structure and interior works for the first and second wings were completed. In the second phase, once these areas are operational, interior works will begin on the third wing. The third, not yet completed wing of Tartu Südamekodu is specifically designed for residents with dementia.