Browsing by Subject "ikäihmiset"

One of the biggest challenges in Finland in the future will be the growing number of elderly people. It means that more and more people will be dependent on care and medication. According to research elderly people consider physical working order and an option for social interaction with other people to be the most important things for their well-being. As one ages the activity of living decreases. As a result other matters relating to the quality of life suffer as well. Older people are entitled to life worthy of a human being. To underpin this objective we have to maintain their independence and activity. This requires a certain level of health, well-being and working order which can all be influenced by other people. All activities are surrounded by some sort of an environment, so it is an important part of well-being. Green environment in particular is believed to have a positive effect to the well being and health. This is emphasized in hospitals and institutions. The first aim of this study was to map out the factors in green environment that motivate and encourage to use more time outdoors. The second aim was to study the impacts of the increased activity for the elderly people in the assisted living building Palta in Paimio, Finland. The research was carried out during summer 2009. Method was to observe the use of green environment and to interview nine habitants and their relatives and the staff of Paltanpuisto. The habitants were interviewed twice, spring and autumn. Other participants were interviewed once late summer. The object was to find out what were the reasons that got the habitants to go out and how did they feel it had affected their well-being The results were organized into three categories that were considered to activate habitants to go out: Safety, operationality and experientiality. The categories are interactive and in part overlapping. Experiences of well-being were considered as one category, which once again interacts with the three mentioned above. Main reasons to go out were the feeling of independence, other people and the affect going out has on general mood. In general this study confirms that green environment has a positive affect for the habitants of assisted living buildings. Most habitants saw the opportunity to go out as a vitally important factor behind good quality of life.