As Sweden’s population grows older, the country faces a critical challenge: how to support its aging citizens without overwhelming public resources. IKEA believes it has a powerful solution.
Through BoKlok — a long-standing partnership between IKEA and Swedish construction firm Skanska — the company is introducing a new generation of affordable, dementia-friendly homes. For more than 30 years, BoKlok has delivered over 11,000 modular homes across Scandinavia using IKEA’s lean, cost-efficient production model. Now, the concept has been adapted to help residents living with memory-related conditions remain at home longer.
The first customized SilviaBo homes, located just outside Stockholm, have been designed with practical features that reduce confusion and increase comfort. Bathrooms exclude mirrors, which can cause distress for people with dementia, and kitchens include traditional knobs instead of digital controls. Outdoor spaces, therapeutic gardens, and shared clubhouses encourage social interaction and fresh-air routines — amenities that also make the homes appealing for partners or family members who choose to move in as well.
Jonas Spangenberg, CEO of BoKlok, explains the mission clearly: caring for elderly populations is becoming significantly more expensive, and supporting seniors in their own homes provides major savings for society. “It’s much cheaper for the public to offer services at home,” he told CNN Business.
Addressing a Global Aging Crisis
Like Japan, the United States, and many other nations, Sweden is experiencing rapid demographic shifts. By 2040, nearly 25% of Swedes will be 65 or older, driven partly by the post-World War II baby boom. In a country with government-funded senior care and one of the world’s highest life expectancies, this trend places increasing pressure on public spending and on the availability of comfortable housing options.
Spangenberg notes that too many seniors end up in care facilities they never intended to enter. The SilviaBo concept aims to change that. By creating apartments that remain supportive even as cognitive challenges progress, more people can continue living independently in environments designed specifically for their needs.
The project’s name honors Queen Silvia of Sweden, who has been personally involved since the beginning. Inspired by her own mother’s experience with Alzheimer’s, the Queen supports the initiative through her foundation, which provides specialized dementia-care training. Before his passing in 2018, IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad contributed a significant donation, cementing the partnership’s long-term vision.
A New Approach to Affordable Senior Living
SilviaBo is currently being rolled out across Sweden, with BoKlok beginning discussions with local governments regarding land and zoning. A six-unit pilot project near Stockholm is complete, though residents have not yet moved in due to a permit dispute. The company remains confident the issue will be resolved soon.
The homes follow BoKlok’s signature “Left to Live” payment model, which calculates rent based on what residents can afford after essential living expenses. The building process mirrors IKEA’s philosophy: cost savings come from standardized layouts, mass production, and strict control over the entire supply chain — from land purchase to on-site construction.
Still, SilviaBo includes important upgrades tailored to dementia care. Bathrooms avoid dark flooring that might appear like holes to someone with memory loss, and layouts are designed to reduce stress triggers and promote familiarity. A second version of the home is being planned for newly retired individuals around age 65. With minimal adjustments and the option to add accessibility features over time, these units allow residents to transition smoothly as their needs evolve.
Spangenberg encourages potential residents to see the advantage early: “Make that clever move now, before it’s too late.”
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