Wellbeing in South Karelia, Finland

South Karelia Social and Health Care District (Eksote) produces ​health services, family and social welfare services, and services for senior citizens that promote health and everyday wellbeing and functioning.

The population of the social and health care district is about 132 000.

​Eksote is a joint municipality authority of the South Karelia region, and is comprised of nine municipalities: ​Lappeenranta, Lemi, Luumäki, Imatra, Parikkala, Rautjärvi, Ruokolahti, Savitaipale and Taipalsaari

​The services produced by Eksote include outpatient care, oral healthcare, mental healthcare and substance abuse services, laboratory and imaging examination services, medicinal care, rehabilitation services, hospital services, family services, social services for adults, special services for the disabled, and flexible services for the elderly that are adaptable to the needs and age structure of the population.

Wellbeing centres offer social and healthcare services based on the needs and age structure of the population of each service area. The Eksote network places a high priority on assessing service needs and on providing advisory and instructional services.

Assessing the need for services is an important part of the work of low-threshold service centres also. The mental health and evaluation clinic is open for adults 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The special unit for children and young people (in Finnish, Lasten ja nuorten talo) provides psychosocial services during normal office hours. The Iso apu (Big Help) service centre brings together Eksote district social services and advisory and instructional services relating to care of the elderly and the disabled under one roof.

Electronic services are being developed systematically for the 'Eksoten asiointipalvelu​' service portal. Electronic services can be accessed from home, facilitating easy services.