Attendo’s mission is to develop care with the individual at the center – and to make our care available to more people. Since 1985, we have been a driving force in challenging traditional ways of working, measuring and following up on quality, and putting the spotlight on the people for whom the care is really for. Over the years, we’ve harnessed the power of those who know care best – leaders and employees who want to make a difference.
Today, Attendo is the leading care provider in the Nordics, with 33,000 employees delivering care to more than 30,000 customers at around 800 units in Finland, Sweden, and Denmark. We are at the forefront of quality development and new technology, have more satisfied customers than other providers, and offer public payors more care for the tax money spent.
Throughout our journey, both Attendo and the care sector have undergone major changes. Yet our mission and values have always stayed the same – to empower the individual with care, commitment and competence. We truly believe that every person should be able to make decisions about their own life and lead life with a meaningful everyday experience.
Follow us on a journey through Attendo’s first four decades as pioneers in Nordic care.
1985-1995
- Care is an integrated part of the healthcare system. Focus lies on large-scale institutions, with long-term care providing life-sustaining interventions with little or no quality of life.
- Danderyd becomes the first local authority in Sweden to contract a private provider – Attendo – in Stocksund. Shortly after, we introduce our first innovations: the personal care contact and the home binder.
- In 1992, the "ÄDEL"-reform is implemented, transfering the responsibility for developing homelike residential care with a focus on quality of life to local authorities.
- Attendo is awarded the contract to operate a public nursing home when the City of Malmö outsources Fridhemmet.
1995-2005
- After the economic crisis of the 1990s, care services face tightening budgets. Local authorities begin contracting private providers in an effort to reduce costs.
- Attendo is awarded more and more tenders but struggles to achieve profitability. In 2000, bankruptcy is narrowly avoided.
- Meanwhile, Attendo turns focus on improving quality and ways of working through the creation of a central quality department and digital quality systems.
- In 2003, the Attendo brand is launched, along with our mission – empowering the individual – and our core values: care, commitment and competence. These values continue to guide us to this day.
2005-2015
- Returning to stable finances, Attendo shifts its focus to developing own care operations and build own nursing homes.
- Freedom of choice gains ground, opening new opportunities to challenge public providers – especially in home care.
- Lifestyle nursing homes is launched to better meet customers’ preferences. “Care your way” becomes our new motto in 2011.
- The need for specialized care increases, including within dementia and disabled care. Focus turns to method development and quality follow-up.
2015-2025
- The digitalization of care accelerates with welfare technology and smart tools. Attendo develops its own apps to support communication with customers, relatives, and between employees.
- Attendo invests heavily in new care homes to meet the growing number of older individuals. However, demand does not grow at the same pace as supply.
- The pandemic and stricter staffing requirements in Finland put pressure on Attendo. It’s not until 2023 that results begin to improve again.
- Attendo shifts focus to how care is delivered and experienced. New approaches are developed to enhance quality of life, and customer satisfaction is tracked as part of our sustainability efforts.
- Several acquisitions expand Attendo’s offering in LSS and Individual & Family care, making Attendo a leading provider in both elderly care and other types of social care.