Moni-ikä -project (2024–2026) promotes the equality of older people from the perspectives of language, culture, religion, and sexual and gender minorities. Goal is to make visible the needs of ageing minorities and provide knowledge on how to meet these needs within services for older people in Finland. In this article, the project presents two new tools for improving the skills and knowledge of professionals working with ageing minorities.Co-operation is essential for the project. The network includes 20 partner organisations, many of which are connected to ENIEC. All key outputs of the project have been prepared together with partners. Co-design of outputs produces higher-quality material that spreads throughout the network.
Data collection
In the first phase of the project, the project focused on data collection. An important part ofthe data collection was group discussions with older people belonging to different minorities.The topics included experiences of ageing in Finland, services and discrimination. The project also carried out two surveys on diversity views, one aimed at professionals and the other at members of councils for the elderly. In addition, instructors who lead groups of immigrant elderly people were interviewed.
Outputs and Materials
With the help of the information collected, it was possible to implement the second phase of the project, during which outputs and materials will be published, the aim of which is to improve the knowledge base of professionals working with older people and to compile information as a basis for societal decision-making.
Two outputs have been selected for this article, which in particular aim to promote the understanding and competence of professionals in diversity.
Briefings on diversity for professionals
One of the main outputs of the project is a series of briefings aimed at professionals, students and volunteers. Hour-long briefings are held in Teams once a month throughout 2025. Each briefing has 3-4 short and practical presentations in Finnish. The briefings form an information package that makes it easy to get a map of the basics of diversity. The themes include diversity among ageing people, designing culture sensitive services, language awareness, and facilitating finding and participation of older people with various backgrounds.
The presentations are published as recordings including subtitles on a playlist in VALLI’sYouTube. Presentations are published as separate recordings. The length of one recording is about 15 minutes, making it easier to watch at work. They can be used freely, for example, in the orientation of the work community or as training material in educational institutions.
Diversity test and data bank
The project has produced a freely usable Diversity Test, which is aimed at professionals, students and volunteers working with older people. Educational institutions can use the test to support teaching. It is also suitable for workplace use as part of induction or continuing education.
The test can be used to map one’s competence in basic questions related to the diversity of ageing people. The test also includes a data bank that provides basic information on the subject.
The test consists of 15 questions and the time spent on it varies from fifteen minutes to an hour. The time needed depends, among other things, on how long you familiarise yourself with the database and the links that open through it that provide additional information. After successful completion, it is possible to save and print the certificate for yourself. The diversity test and the data bank are free of charge. The test is answered anonymously, and the website does not store the names of the authors or other personal information.The test can be found at: www.moninaisuustesti.fi
Advocacy work
In the last year of the project (third phase), the focus is on disseminating the project’s outputs nationwide and communicating the observations and recommendations for action to decision-makers.
The Union for Senior Services, VALLI, is a national non-profit umbrella organisation for the care of elderly with approximately 60 member associations around Finland, which serve about 20 000 older people with 2000 professionals. VALLI works actively in co-operation withits member associations and professionals towards a welfare society where everyone cangrow up and grow old in harmony. www.valli.fi
