The first live network seminar of the MOI Network for Diverse Ageing attracted 60 participants to the Event Square at Helsinki City Hall in mid-January 2026, with a further 25 network members listening in remotely. Throughout the day, the network had the opportunity to get to know one another and to share experiences and expertise with other professionals and active participants in the field.
The network seminar programme was divided into two segments, with the first focusing on networking under the title: How Is the MOI Network Doing? This session included opening remarks from Riikka Dahlman, Chair of the Helsinki Elderly Council, followed by introductions to other network members through participatory exercises. In this segment, there were also presentations on various themes requested by network members (such as community work and inclusion, reaching older people, the loneliness of ageing people who speak foreign languages, and opportunities for collaboration across different sectors).
Before the coffee break, participants were divided into workshops based on these themes. In the workshops, participants envisioned a better future and developed concrete measures and ideas that could be implemented immediately within their own work communities. Although the time allocated for the workshops was relatively short, participants expressed a desire for more time for discussion and development in the future. The participatory exercises and activities designed to introduce network members to one another were highly praised and deemed successful.
The second part of the event shifted focus from networking to older people and posed the question: How Are Older People Belonging to Minorities Doing, According to Research? The topic was introduced by Professor Meri Kulmala from the University of Helsinki and Sanna Nykänen from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. Meri examined research data from a social science perspective, while Sanna adopted a statistical research approach. Their shared conclusion was that, although the topic is globally significant and growing, there is a scarcity of research-based information available about older people belonging to minorities.
The MoniSuomi study by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) from 2022 showed that perceived health and quality of life differ by age and background groups. Women over 50 born abroad rated their health as poorer both compared to the mainstream population and to younger migrants. A concerning broader trend was the increasing perception of inadequacy in doctor’s appointment services in 2018 and 2022. The researcher highlighted that older people born abroad use services less and have poorer treatment outcomes, even though their need is often greater.
The viewpoints of both researchers on the study results indicate exclusion from services and structural discrimination. Previous experiences of exclusion in working life also impact ageing later on. The consequences include low income, lack of participation, dependency on others, and a sense of being an outsider. According to research, the social rights of older people in minorities are not being realised, and thus the promise of equality in the service system does not apply to them either. Third sector organisations are forced to fulfil public sector duties without official status or sufficient funding.
Although there is much research into ageing, migration, and experiences of exclusion, these topics are too often studied separately. As a result, older people with minority background are not visible in research on the older population, migration, or experiences of exclusion. To remedy the situation, research must be multidisciplinary and multi-local, combining different research sectors, with older people and the organisations supporting them being involved from the planning phase onwards. On one hand, an overview based on statistical data is needed, and on the other, a deep understanding of lived experience, including analyses of effective practices.
The researchers emphasised the importance of expertise based on practical work and lived experience in research. And when it comes to solutions, research alone is not enough. Collaboration with older people and those working with them is needed. The MOI Network for Diverse Ageing is an excellent partner in this respect!
