Kerrostalokylän asumispalvelujen kehittäminen – Esitutkimus (pdf).

ABSTRACT
Developing Resident Services in the Apartment Building Village – Preliminary study
Helena Tuorila
The goal of the Developing Resident Services in the Apartment Building Village project is to find
new types of solutions to meet the service needs of residents of housing cooperatives on Itätuulenkuja
located in Tapiola in Espoo. The goal is to create a safe, easy to use, and flexible service model, which
offers different types of services that support living at home to residents.
The intention of the preliminary study is to gather background information for piloting the Developing
Resident Services in the Apartment Building Village project. More specifically, the preliminary
study researches what type of service innovation is to be used to meet the growing need for services
for senior residents as well as what types of service needs do the residents of housing cooperatives of
Itätuulenkuja have. The material of the preliminary study is based on a survey of Itätuulenkuja housing
cooperative residents, interviews of experts on senior citizen resident needs, and Internet searches
seeking national service innovation activities.
The Developing Resident Services in the Apartment Building Village project has a timely goal.
Reaching this goal requires cooperation with other counterparts associated with senior citizen services.
There are several different potential cooperation partners. In addition, the City of Espoo offers a
stimulating operating environment for the project.
In reference to implementing the Developing Resident Services in the Apartment Building Village
project, resident surveys identify a positive attitude toward the use of services. Residents are ready to
invest in maintaining their health and well-being by purchasing different types of services. Making the
services available from a single location is strongly supported by the respondents. A service-provider
that brokers services from a single location can be used to eliminate obstacles associated with obtaining
services by clarifying granting of public services, making it easier for senior citizens to obtain
information and guidance regarding services, identifying different types of customer needs, and by
supporting the development of the services offered by service-providers so that they better meet customer
needs.
Service costs will create a challenge for carrying out the apartment building project. The costs of
services obtained from outside the household are seen as high. Based on the criticism of the prices
for the services, the conclusion can be made that the costs incurred from service brokerage activities
should be primarily covered using fees charged from other counterparts participating in the
activities.
Another challenge is created by the attitudes of the potential service customers. Home is seen as a
private area, where outsiders are not to be allowed access to. One of the challenges of the apartment
building project will be to reinforce the positive images associated with services in the home. A further
challenge for the project is that doing household chores is seen as therapy that maintains one’s capability
to function. External services are not sought until people are unable to do their chores themselves
due to physical limitations or illness.
Key words: living, residents, resident services, services, apartment building areas