DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

Finland is a Nordic country situated in the Northern Europe. Population was around 5.5 million in 2017, with the majority concentrated in its southern regions. Finland is the eighth largest country in Europe and the most sparsely populated country in the European Union.
Health and life expectancy have increased continuously. Welfare and health inequalities between population groups have remained unchanged or even grown slightly. The differences are evident in the mortality, sickness rates, functional capacity and perceived health between socioeconomic groups, regions and the sexes.
The most influential factor for the demographic structure is ageing. The over-65s accounted for 17.5 percent of the population in 2010. A Finnish woman gives birth to 1.83 children on average, which is above the European average (2011).
Life expectancy is 76 years for men and 82 years for women. (National Institute for Welfare and Health, http://www.repopa.eu/content/finland-demographics).

CARE FOR OLD PEOPLE IN FINLAND

In Finland the main laws as Law about Health service and Social service have undergone substantial reform in the years 2011 and 2015. The status of patient is now different, he/she is subject and he/she must be present in the evaluation of the patients situation and forming his/her care and service plan.

The main aim in care for old people is that the majority of old people live at their own home. In Finland, the home health care professionals (HHCP) that are most involved in the homecare of older people are the practical nurses. Practical nurses have upper secondary level qualification for social and health care. Practical nurses are health care professionals with a protected occupational title. The development needs in home care focus therefore in practical nurse education.

OMNIA COLLEGE

Omnia is located in Espoo. It is the unit in charge of practical nurses’ training within Omnia College whom are involved in CARESS.

SKILLS MISMATCHES

Several skills mistmatches have been identified, which CARESS will aim to address. During interviews, practical nurses answered that they need more knowledge about the main aids and devices for older and disabled people, procedures to encourage patients to go out of home, providing the customer with contextualized and personalized information about the network of social services and benefits he/she can rely on, competences for collaboration with other practitioners and competences for evaluating customer needs and adapting the service.

AMBITIONS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PILOT

The target of the pilot is to test a presence and virtual learning package. In this pilot, several methods are used: activating lectures, Virtual Moodle learning environment, case-based learning methods, written assignments, links to databases or 360 video images to visualize virtually a home to favour practical training in home care for old people.