Queen Silvia of Sweden Opens €10m Nursing Center in Vilnius
Standing in the newly renovated halls of what was once a hotel on the outskirts of the Lithuanian capital, Queen Silvia of Sweden officially inaugurated the Addere Care nursing and supportive treatment center this week. The ceremony marked the culmination of a €10 million investment aimed at fundamentally shifting the landscape of long-term care in the Baltic region.
During the opening, the Queen, who has been a global advocate for dementia care for over three decades, emphasized that the core of effective nursing is not found in clinical protocols alone, but in the preservation of human dignity. “True care is born not from rules or procedures, but from the relationship with the person,” she noted, stressing that every individual deserves to be seen through their personal history rather than their diagnosis.
A New Standard for Dementia Care in the Baltics
The Addere Care facility is the first and only organization in the Baltic States to receive the “Silviahemmet” certification. This designation is significant; the Silviahemmet foundation was established by Queen Silvia in 1996 and is recognized globally as a gold standard for dementia care. The methodology, developed in collaboration with specialists from the Karolinska University Hospital, focuses on empathy, individual needs, and a holistic approach to patient well-being.
For the 170 patients the facility can accommodate, this means a departure from traditional institutionalized care. Every staff member, regardless of their specific role, undergoes specialized training in the Swedish methodology. The goal is to create an environment where those suffering from dementia and other chronic conditions receive care that mirrors what the Queen herself sought for her own mother—care that is both professional and deeply respectful of the individual’s humanity.
From Hotel to Healthcare: A €10 Million Transformation
Located on the Minsko Highway, the facility occupies a reconstructed hotel building. This choice of venue was intentional, designed to move away from the sterile, often intimidating atmosphere of traditional hospitals. The interior has been crafted to resemble a modern wellness or rest center, utilizing light, layout, and aesthetics to promote emotional security and a higher quality of life for residents.
Kristina Judinė, the founder and director of Addere Care, explained that the project’s mission is to reduce the stigma associated with nursing care in Lithuania. By creating a space that feels more like a home or a retreat than a ward, the hope is that patients and their families will feel a sense of dignity rather than defeat when seeking help.
Navigating the Future of Long-Term Care
Beyond its architectural and philosophical shifts, the center introduces practical accessibility for local families. In Lithuania, nursing and supportive treatment services can be provided free of charge for up to 120 days (four months) per year, funded by the state. Addere Care operates within this framework, while also looking toward the future. The facility plans to expand into broader social care services as the demand for high-quality elderly care continues to rise across Europe.
The project has already gained international recognition, securing first place in the “Innovative SPA Concept” category at the ESPA Innovation Awards in Hungary earlier this year. Furthermore, the center serves as the Lithuanian coordinator for the Queen Silvia Nursing Award, an international initiative that encourages nursing students and professionals to develop innovative ideas to improve the healthcare system.
As the aging population in the Baltics grows, the introduction of the Silviahemmet model in Vilnius serves as a pilot for how private investment and international expertise can modernize state-supported healthcare systems, turning the focus from mere survival to a life lived with dignity.
Source: BNS
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