Adults / Elderly People
If you feel that you need professional help to get through difficult times in life or in relationships with your family or children, or you feel depressed or stressed, you can contact your local health centre.
Mental health issues can be linked to substance abuse, financial hardship and child protection issues. You local social services will help you with these matters. The doctors and nurses at the health centres can also refer alcohol and drug abusers for appropriate treatment. Lahti offers specialist services for elderly people. For more information, contact PalveluSantra, an advice service for elderly people: Rautatienkatu 15, 15110 Lahti, Finland, on tel. +358 (0)3 7823301 and +358 (0)3 7823302.
Social Services
Social services are there to get you through difficult times in life and to help you to cope on your own.
Residents in Laune region have their own social services unit, Launeenkatu 74, PL 116, 15101 Lahti; tel. +358 3 818 111, opening Hours: Mon–Thu 08.00–16.00, Fri 08.00–15.00 .
The residents of other areas can contact City Centre Social Services Unit, Aleksanterinkatu 18 A 4. krs, PL 116, 15101 Lahti, tel. +358 3 818 3209. Opening Hours: Mon- Fri 08.30 - 12.00 and 13.00 - 15.00.
The Ahtiala Health Centre also has a drop-box where residents of Ahtiala can leave their applications and other documents, which will then be forwarded to the appropriate social services unit.
Income Support
Income support is the benefit of last resort, awarded by social services and aimed at ensuring the livelihood of individuals and families and helping them to cope on their own. At a minimum, income support brings the household’s income up to the level that the family needs to live on. You can claim income support if you cannot cope with financial hardship on your own. Income support ensures you the bare minimum that you need to live on to tide you over a difficult time. Social services will also help you to find solutions that could improve your quality of life.
Claiming for Income Support and Contacting Social Services
You can pick up a claim form for income support at Laune Social Services Unit or income support customer services at Aleksi 18 A, 4th floor (see “Enquiries” below). All forms must be signed and supplied in paper format by post (Department of Social Services and Health / Income Support / PO Box 116, 15101 Lahti, Finland) or dropped off in person at your local social services unit or income support customer services. Remember to include all necessary appendices and statements to support your claim. Your application will then be processed, and a written verdict will be sent to your home by post. If you are not happy with the decision, you can lodge an appeal with t he appropriate section of the Board of Social Services and Health within 14 days of receiving notification of the verdict. If the decision includes a factual error, the social services employee dealing with your claim can correct the mistake.
If the claim is successful, income support is paid into the claimant’s bank account on the second working day (not Saturday or Sunday) after the decision has been made.
Alcohol and Drugs
With substance abuse issues, you can contact the A-Clinic Foundation in Lahti or your local health centre. If you need hospital treatment, you should go to the emergency clinic at Lahti City Hospital. The City Hospital is on emergency duty between 16.00 and 23.00, and Päijät-Häme Central Hospital takes over after 23.00.
The social services and healthcare sector in Lahti offers advice, support, outpatient care, residential detoxification, residential rehabilitation and housing services to prevent and stop substance abuse.
Several different organisations, such as schools and student healthcare centres, social services and health authorities, various associations and organisations as well as the police, participate in preventing substance abuse.
- Lahti City Hospital, tel. +358 (0)3 818 4200
- Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, tel. +358 (0)3 819 2385
- A-Clinic Foundation, Hämeenkatu 21 A, 15110 Lahti, Finland; call times: Mon–Fri 08.00–12.00, tel. +358 (0)3 877 222
- Jelppi Health Advice Centre, Rauhankatu 7, 15110 Lahti, Finland; opening hours: Tue 15.00–18.00, Wed 11.00–14.00 and Thu 14.00–17.00
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