Finding with Nature: Supporting Well-being of Older Adults Who Provide Care for Their Close One
Project description
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.
More information and topical issues are available from Jamk University of Applied Sciences, who coordinates the project webpages Finding with Nature
Publications
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