The importance of effective property maintenance in a nursing home

Coor has been Attendo's property maintenance partner for many years. Over the years, Attendo's operations have expanded significantly, and Coor has grown alongside it.

Hannamari Leppälehti has been unit manager at Attendo Männistön Sydän in Kuopio since the beginning of 2022.
"Within the walls of this property 58 elderly residents have their homes. From my perspective, it is extremely important that our property maintenance partner is familiar and reliable, and has janitors who know the building," Leppälehti explains, and continues:
"Coor's janitors are good at interacting with the residents and taking them into consideration. They move responsibly, and ensure that necessary doors and gates are locked."

Heavy use of the property requires quick and effective maintenance

In addition to the residents, the property hosts a large number of healthcare professionals and other staff functions, such as nurses, nursing assistants, cleaners, chefs, physiotherapists, doctors, and students. Additionally, family members are free to visit their loved ones.

"Many people are using the building, and there are many items to repair. For instance, all the beds have wheels and many of the residents need mobility aid, that can brake sockets,” Hannamari Leppälehti explains.

Coor supports the everyday life of the nursing home in many ways. Oiling and tightening door locks and hinges, installations, reparations, gardening, exterior inspections of the facilities, heating systems and electrical panels, sealing wet areas, and moving tasks are all part of the diverse duties.

"Preventing slipping during winter is important to us. According to our service promise, every resident has the right to go outside at least once a week, and many of them use walkers or wheelchairs. But also tasks that might seem small, such as repairing loose handles or sliding drawers that got stuck, can be very significant for the nurses to be able to carry out their work smoothly,” Hannamari Leppälehti says.

Easy and smooth collaboration

Both unit manager Hannamari Leppälehti and Coor's site manager Antti Marin praise the ease and the smoothness of the collaboration. They communicate continuously face-to-face, by phone, instant messages, and email. Service requests are made through an electronic system, allowing their progress to be monitored.

Image: Hannamari Leppälehti and Antti Marin

"Four times a year, we send a pulse survey to the customer, but the daily communication and immediate feedback are key to make our service delivery even better," Antti Marin explains.

Hannamari Leppälehti says that effective property maintenance has a significant impact on the positive feedback from the service users.

"Not long ago, one of our residents suffered from dry eyes. The doctor couldn't find a solution to the problem. Instead, help was found when the property maintenance team adjusted the ventilation. This case well illustrates how everyone's contribution is crucial for things to run smoothly,” Hannamari Leppälehti concludes.