Finland

In september 2009 two EUNAAPA members (Ger Kroes and Erwin Tak) visited Finland in order to get more information about best practices on physical activity promotion for the elderly. Based upon the results of the finnish report of work package 5 of the EUNAAPA project programs and promotion strategies were selected.  The cities of Jyvaskyla and Helsinki were included in the trip. On this page you can find a short summary of the visited projects and programs. Further information can be found in the finnish EUNAAPA reports and from the programs and promotion strategies themselves.

Innovations in promotion of physical activity in Finland: from research to practice

 According to the Finnish Sport Act (1998), all Finnish resident have a right to exercise. This law obliges municipalities to guarantee equal access to exercise services to all residents regardless of their age or health status.

In both the city of Jyvaskyla as well as Helsinki, there is a strong combination of research and practice. Knowledge is developed in universities and schools for applied sciences and disseminated into daily practice. Experiences from practice are used to improve programs and strategies. Most of the following organizations combine these two fields:

Visited projects/organizations Jyvaskyla:

1. GeroCenter Foundation for research and development (Raija Leinonen)
2. LIKES foundation for sport and health sciences (Jyrki Komulainen)
3. University of Jyväskylä, Faculty of sport and health sciences and Finnish Centre for Interdisciplinary Gerontology (Pertti Era, Janne Sallinen, Mirja Hirvensalo, Erkki Tervo)
4. Jyväskylä Sports Services and Jyvaskyla Social and Health Service (Pirjo Huovinen, Sirkka Kannas)

Visited projects/organizations in/around Helsinki

1. Age institute, Helsinki (Elina Karvinen, )
2. Active Life Village, Espoo (Katariina Raij)