Östersund municipality is introducing mandatory Swedish language courses and testing for elderly care staff following harsh criticism from the Health and Social Care Inspectorate (Ivo). According to reports, mistakes due to communication problems have nearly tripled in recent years at the municipality's elderly care facilities.
In 2025, five Lex Maria investigations were submitted to Ivo from Östersund's elderly care homes. One documented incident occurred at Rådmansgatan's special care home on Frösön, where a resident fell during the night and suffered a fracture. Care was reportedly delayed because staff could not make themselves understood.
a hundred percent better than SFI
The municipality is now implementing Swedish language courses during work hours and introducing language requirements for personnel. Zakari Ali, a 28-year-old care assistant from Somalia who works at Trossgränd in Östersund, praised the approach, stating that learning Swedish through work is 'a hundred percent better than SFI' (Swedish for Immigrants).
With eight nationalities represented among staff at some facilities, the language initiative aims to address what Ivo has identified as systemic communication problems affecting patient safety in Östersund's elderly care system.