Promoting wellbeing and health
The wellbeing and health of older people should be promoted by providing them with more support and opportunities for meaningful activities than are currently available. Measures to promote wellbeing and health should also be more accessible and more effective in reaching older people who are beginning to experience declining functional capacity, or who are otherwise in particularly vulnerable positions.
Challenges to older people’s health and functional capacity
There are considerable differences in functional capacity among older people. Such difficulties are significantly more common among older people on low incomes, individuals with lower levels of education, minority groups, and residents living outside urban centres. These disparities encompass physical, cognitive, social, and psychological functioning.
Older age is the greatest risk factor for memory disorders, but many other risk factors can be addressed. Prevention strategies align closely with measures that promote the functional capacity of older people in general: physical activity, a healthy diet, social interaction, cognitive stimulation, sufficient sleep and the effective management of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Preventative measures, alongside actions to maintain and promote health and wellbeing, are targeted at individuals, communities, and living environments.
Social isolation and loneliness also have a negative impact on the wellbeing and health of older people and on society as a whole. The most effective way to reduce loneliness among older people is by supporting those on the lowest incomes and creating opportunities for local activities.
Why is it important to promote the wellbeing and health of older people?
In an ageing Finland, improving the functional capacity and health of older people is in everyone’s interest. For older people themselves, this is important because it helps them enjoy better health for longer and supports their independence and coping in daily life. Promoting wellbeing and health also helps ensure that social welfare and healthcare services are sufficient to meet demand, and is therefore economically beneficial to society as a whole.
Recommendations of the Ombudsman for Older People
The Ombudsman for Older People recommends the following measures to promote the wellbeing and health of older people:
- Increase joint initiatives by municipalities, wellbeing services counties and organisations to promote the wellbeing and health of older people. Ensure that Councils for Older People in municipalities and wellbeing services counties have the opportunity to participate in decision-making concerning the wellbeing and health of older people.
- Ensure that organisations have sufficient resources to carry out activities that promote the wellbeing, functional capacity and participation of older people.
- Provide targeted funding for measures by municipalities, wellbeing services counties, and organisations to reduce health inequalities and risk factors for memory disorders among older people.
- Ensure that measures to promote wellbeing and health reach, in particular, older people with reduced functional capacity, those on low incomes or from minority backgrounds, as well as informal carers and rural residents.
Read more about the topic
Ombudsman for Older People (2024). Report to Parliament by the Ombudsman for Older People 2024..
Ombudsman for Older People (2025). Aiming for a society with no age discrimination. Report to the Government by the Ombudsman for Older People 2024.