ACTIVE AGEING

A key part of our network’s expertise and special focus area

The region of Joensuu has a versatile public and private social and health-care ecosystem. Through strong teamwork between research actors, educational institutes and a large variety of services, we aim to develop the top services and innovative solutions. We provide world-class know-how and expert solutions for the urgent needs of global social and health-care challenges. Promotion of services for Active ageing is one of the current key areas.

An ageing society

The Global Education Park Finland network has strong competence in the field of ageing.

  • Competence in Ageing means knowledge about aging and its social, communal and individual impacts.
  • This competence is needed in all sectors of a society in order to support the wellbeing and valuable resource of elderly citizens.
  • All our secondary and higher education institutions provide a wide selection of solutions related to the theme of ageing.
  • We provide tailored guidance for your specific needs as a customer.
  • Please, do not hesitate to contact us.
    You will also receive information on all of our training programmes from the page “Services for experts“.

You can familiarise yourself with our competence and current topics related to the theme of ageing below:

  1. The growing phenomena related to ageing
  2. Developing the services
  3. Rehabilitation
  4. Independent living at home
  5. Palliative care
  6. Digitalisation in social and health care services

1. The growing phenomena related to ageing

Why is there a great demand for experts in ageing?

  • People are living longer than before, and the number of older adults is increasing rapidly.
  • Globally, many countries will be facing the same situation in the next decades.
  • Aging affects the whole of society.
  • An ageing society primarily needs a broad perspective and knowledge and understanding of the meaning of an ageing population.
  • The success of many enterprises may be dependent upon how they can meet the service needs of older people.
  • When talking about the phenomena of ageing, it is important to notice that the concept of ageing can be divided into different phases of life: ageing employees, seniors and old people.
  • In addition to individual wellbeing and health promotion, it is also necessary to understand that seniors’ resources are of communal importance.

2. Developing the services

The development of ageing services is one of our strategic focus areas

  • In the area of Eastern Finland, competence in ageing has been selected as one of the key strategic focus areas.
  • It is also one of the main strategic focus areas in our universities: Karelia University of Applied Sciences and University of Eastern Finland.
  • Competence in ageing is considered an opportunity for development and a future resource.
  • Competence is developed in cooperation with research, education and working life partners.
  • Finland’s expertise in Gerontological competence has been actively developed for decades and is highly appreciated and known around the world.
  • Our areas of expertise include the principle of supporting active aging.
  • Active ageing is the process of optimising opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age. It applies to both individuals and population groups.

3. Rehabilitation

Providing rehabilitation services to meet the needs of an ageing society

  • Rehabilitation aims to support an individual’s survival in her/his own life environment.
  • The principle of rehabilitation is considered not just ethically valuable, but of economic value as well.
  • During the past few years, Finnish educators have put more emphasis on the work of developing competence in providing rehabilitation services to meet the needs of an ageing society.
  • One significant step has been to reform the model of service provision for rehabilitation, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the work and to enhance the adoption and use of technology.
  • Another key point has been to improve the customer’s position and create inclusive practices.

4. Independent living at home

How the wish of majority can be supported?

  • The majority of older adults prefer to live at home as long as possible.
  • This wish can be supported by offering participation, security and health-promoting services at home.
  • Teachers, managers and specialists are on the front line in building the new professional competences required for elderly care and rehabilitation.
  • Our network offers valid training in independent living at home.
  • The fundamental course modules include topics such as:
    • gerontological rehabilitation and active ageing;
    • health promotion;
    • preventing risks in older adulthood;
    • creating an individualised care plan for older adults.

5. Palliative care

Life is valuable and quality services are needed until the end of life

  • Palliative care refers to an active, multi-professional and holistic type of care for terminally ill and dying people in cases where the illness is not responsive to curative treatment and the goal of treatment is not to prolong life at all costs.
  • The aim of the care is to improve quality of life for both the person and the family.
  • The care focuses on providing people with relief from their symptoms and from the pain and stress of the terminal diagnosis.
  • Our expert training will enhance the development process for your local services.
  • The aim of this service development is to create multi-professional care for people with an incurable disease as well as for terminally ill patients.
  • Our expert services and training programmes are targeted at health-care personnel.

6. Digitalisation in social and health care services

Digitalised solutions are creating more effiency, safety, and functionality

  • Finland is a forerunner in digitalisation. The ICT sector is strong, and digitalised service solutions are rapidly expanding. This allows us to develop creative technology-enhanced programmes that make social and health-care services function more smoothly.
  • In terms of social and health-care services, through digitalisation the needs of patients can be met more efficiently and more appropriately in many cases.
  • As the use of digital tools is expected to increase in all age groups, the services should be designed and created so that they are accessible for all.
  • Through digitalisation, the services provided can make more efficient use of resources, tools and modern operating environments.
  • Partially digitalised social and health-care services are vital in order to provide quality and wellbeing for a wide range of customer needs.
  • We are happy to assist your healthcare organisation plan and develop your digitalised services.
  • Our experts are able to support the development of digitalisation skills for both your students and staff.
  • We promote flexible learning opportunities and year-round learning

Please, feel free to find more information from our page “Services for experts“.

Please, do not hesitate to contact us in case of any questions.