Institutional care is a type of treatment provided by an institute, other family or other organized form aiming at replacing, complementing or providing the functions of own home or family. It includes basic care and social care in accordance with regulations governing social care as well as health care under health care regulations:

• institutional care of children and youth deprived of normal family life also provides for education and preparation for life
• children and youth suffering from mental or physical development disorder who are placed in institutional care are also provided with training in accordance with special act, care and guidance
• adults suffering from mental or physical development disorder who are placed in institutional care are provided with special forms of care.

Basic care includes accommodation, organized meals, technical supplies and transportation.

Social care is a professionally led activity aimed at implementing the contents of social prevention, therapy and guidance of entitled persons.  It includes the carrying out of tasks concerning care, special forms of care, education and preparation for life as well as tasks relating to guidance.

Care means provision of assistance in personal hygiene and daily activities (getting up, dressing, moving, walking, communicating and orientation). Special forms of care are designed to maintain and develop independence and social relations and also focus on occupational activity, correction of disorders, therapy, active leisure time and solving personal and social distress.

The services are provided by:

• residential homes for the elderly
• special social care institutes
• social care institutes for training
• alternative forms of accommodation and care.

Admission, relocation and discharge of a user who exercises the right to institutional care is carried out pursuant to the Rules on procedures concerning the exercising of the right to institutional care. The admission procedure commences by an application for admission to institutional care filed with the desired institute.