Promote Healthy Aging in Finland

The Finnish Blue Ribbon has been active in Peer Support Groups for many years. The "Pilke Peer Support Groups" meet regularly so that elderly people can talk about addictions and related issues such as loneliness, anxiety and depression. Pilke means "look at" - which means that in the groups each individual is “seen” and his or her individual needs are perceived.

In March a new project called “Pilkettä elämään” (finn. for “A glimpse into life") has started. The aim of the project is to spread the Pilke peer support group work all over Finland during the next three years. As a result new Pilke groups are being established and there are going to be more and more Pilke-instructors. Hundreds of elderly people with substance abuse problems will have a community to belong to and a reason not to drink for at least one day a week. The culture of "We look after each other" is promoted by the project and in the long term it can shape whole Finland by creating a place to be for elderly people.

A goal in this initial phase is also to find out how cost-efficient and effective Pilke work is compared to individual support. Different assessments will be conducted to make the groups as valuable and far reaching as possible.

For this enriching project we are happy to receive additional donations, so that healthy aging can be promoted in Finland in a targeted manner. Many thanks for your generosity!