O4O : Older People for Older People

Karelia, Finland

Partner organisation: Pielinen Karelia Development Center Ltd (PIKES), North Karelia

For details of the North Karelia Steering Group click HERE

Summary of Activity

In Karelia, O4O is working with four communities to support volunteering that will help older people. The project is looking at creating and implementing a volunteering model which can be replicated in different towns for the benefit of the older population. There are also plans to conduct interviews on impacts of O4Os using ideas on social accounting, working in co-operation with Arja Jamsen from Eastern Finland Social and Welfare Centre of Expertise (North Karelia Unit).

The project has recently produced a volunteering guide to help those caring for the elderly with dementia. CLICK HERE to see the guide (in Finnish).

Case Study now available - click HERE to view.

Communities

Nurmes

In Nurmes, O4O has worked closely and formed links with local Elderly Care/Service organisations, taking on board their expertise to establish the needs of the elderly population. Reaction to O4O has been extremely positive, and activities include:

Implementing a training day during national Elderly Week (4-11 October), a celebration of the elderly and the people that work with them. The training day will focus on the topic of rehabilitation.

Working with Ystavanpysakki (Place of Friendship), a social meeting place and activity centre for elderly citizens, run on a voluntary basis. O4O aims to organise a programme for the elderly and those that run the risk of social exclusion. A model of Ystavanpysakki’s activity will be created for implementation in other areas, beginning with Valtimo.

Valtimo Municipality

O4O is investigating how to implement a model of activity based on Ystavanpysakki in the municipality of Valtimo. There is a high percentage of elderly people in the municipality, and O4O are working with Elderly Services in the area, building on their wide knowledge of the life of the local elderly community. The challenge in the region is finding active participants. As a relatively small community, many of the possible participants are already involved in other activities. However, O4O has been warmly welcomed to Valtimo by the Elderly Service. Interviews have been carried out with elderly people to better understand the types of help and support they need in everyday life.

Lieksa

Lieksa is best known for its national landscapes at Koli. The centre of Lieksa is located at the opposite side of Lake Pielinen, which can be crossed at summer by car ferry and by winter by the ice road. Work in Lieska is taking place in cooperation with the villages of Vuonislahti and Koli, where there is a need for help for the elderly to allow them to remain in their own village or home for longer. O4O is working with various organisations, the Vuonislahti Village Association and a group of active villagers in Koli. At present O4O is concentrating on establishing alternative models for help to the elderly in these areas, and to inform the villagers of Koli of information on Elderly Services. O4O is also developing transportation help in Koli. The project has been very successful so far in working together with active villagers. The attitude here is truly older people for older people!