Project
Luonnosta löytäen – hyvinvointia läheisestään huolehtiville
Project sponsors
In the
project 'Finding with Nature: Supporting Well-being of Older Adults
Who Provide Care for Their Close One', nature-based, low-threshold methods
are developed and studied to strengthen the coping and well-being of older
adults who provide care for their close ones, both with and without a formal
caregiver agree. The project responds to the growing need to support older
adults (65+) who provide care for their close one, as their burden, loneliness,
and stress have increased, while their opportunities to participate in
supportive services are often limited. Nature-based approaches offer an
accessible, cost-effective, and evidence-informed pathway for promoting
well-being.
Within the
project, two intervention models are developed to strengthen the mental
well-being, functioning, and nature connectedness of participants:
- Löytävä luontotyö, which
provides individualized support by exploring everyday opportunities to
strengthen nature connectedness, assessing the person's need for support
in relation to nature connectedness from a solution- and resource-oriented
perspective, and supporting nature connectedness through individual
guidance. - The MieliLiike model (developed at Likes,
Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences) serves as the foundation for the
development of the intervention for older adults providing care to a close
one. This model combines physical activity in nature, the enhancement of
psychological flexibility through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT),
and peer support. The development process will result in an intervention
delivered both in face-to-face group sessions and via an interactive
online platform (Howspace).
The
effectiveness and usability of these models will be evaluated using a
mixed-methods approach. A randomized controlled design will be applied to the
MieliLiike intervention, while Löytävä luontotyö will be evaluated using
pre–post measurements. In addition, qualitative insights on both models will be
obtained through qualitative methods.
The aim of
the project is to develop operational models that can be applied more broadly
to support the well-being of older adults who provide care for their close ones.
The project will explore ways to integrate these models into wellbeing services
county care pathways and care coordination, support services for informal care,
and preventive services for older adults provided by municipalities.
Furthermore, the aim is to embed the models within the established activities
and volunteer work of associations.
The project
is implemented in collaboration between Jamk University of Applied Sciences,
the University of Jyväskylä, and IkiOma Ikä ry, in close partnership
with the Central Finland Association of Informal Carers and the
municipalities and Wellbeing Services County of Central Finland.
The project is funded by the Health Promotion
Grant (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, STM) from 1 March 2026 to 31
October 2028.
Additional
information
Julija Chichaeva
Project Manager, Researcher
Jamk University of Applied Sciences
+358 50 462 8081
julija.chichaeva@jamk.fi
Project results
In the
project 'Finding with Nature: Supporting Well-being of Older Adults Who
Provide Care for Their Close One', nature-based, evidence-based individual
and group support models are being developed and piloted/ studied to promote
the well-being of older adults who provide care for their close one. The
project outcomes emerge from five main areas, implemented throughout the
project period.
1.
Nature-based methods for reaching participants
The project develops new nature-oriented approaches to reach older adults (65+)
who provide care for their close one.
Expected results and impacts:
- Development of a model for
reaching the target group, including profiling cards that support
effective communication and help municipalities, organizations, and the
Wellbeing Services County to reach older adults who are otherwise outside
formal support services. - Multi-channel and outreach
activities (e.g., home visits, village events) through which at least
1,000 individuals from the target group will be reached during the
project.
2.
MieliLiike – a model for community-based support
The project adapts the existing MieliLiike model (by Likes, JAMK) to meet the
needs of older adults providing care to a close one.
Expected results and impacts:
- A co-designed model and
intervention developed from workshops and the MieliLiike model, including
both face-to-face group sessions and online delivery via the Howspace
platform. - Evaluation of effectiveness
(RE-AIM framework), producing new knowledge on the feasibility, and
acceptability of the intervention for target goup. - Evidence from a randomized
controlled trial on the benefits of combining nature exposure, physical
activity, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) methods for
psychological well-being and functional capacity among older adults who
provide care for their close one.
3.
Löytävä Luontotyö – a model for individualized support
The project develops and pilots an individualized, nature-based guidance model
to strengthen everyday opportunities for nature connection.
Expected results and impacts:
- A new individualized support
model, Löytävä Luontotyö, which maps everyday opportunities to strengthen
nature connectedness, assesses the person's need for support from a
solution- and resource-oriented perspective, and provides guidance to
support nature connection individually. - At least 100 older adults from
the target group will participate in piloting the model. - Qualitative and quantitative
evaluation of the model's effects, usability, and applicability.
4. Open
materials
The project will produce the following open-access materials:
- A nature workbook containing
exercises for everyday use, information on the benefits of nature
connection, and peer-support stories. The workbook can be used both by older
adults who provide care for their close one and professionals as guidance
support. - An intervention derived from
the MieliLiike model for older adults who provide care for their close one,
which will be nationally accessible for both the target group and
professionals via the online Howspace platform. The online intervention
will include exercises, educational material, and opportunities for peer
support. A responsible party for platform maintenance will be identified
during the project. - Open, clear manuals and
guidelines for the operational models, published nationally for wider use,
for example via Innokyla.
5.
Integration of operational models into municipalities and the Wellbeing
Services County
The operational models developed in the project will be integrated into the
services of municipalities and the Wellbeing Services County of Central
Finland, particularly as part of preventive health and well-being structures.
The goal is to enable broader application of the models to support the
well-being of older adult caregivers and to integrate them into care pathways,
care coordination, informal care support services, and preventive services for
older adults. In addition, the models will be connected to established
association activities and volunteer work.
Expected results and impacts:
- Implementation of the models in
at least 10 municipalities. - Training of over 100
professionals to utilize the operational models in their work. - Integration of the models into
existing services such as senior health check-ups, exercise counseling,
informal care support, and open day activities.
6.
Research results and publications
The project will produce:
- A protocol article and one
international peer-reviewed article reporting the RCT results. - Two popular science articles
and one conference presentation (e.g., at the Nordic Congress of
Gerontology).