Elderly person of the year award Lahti – Kiinni läves activity unites the old and the young

Among other things, the young people have organized various events together with the elderly. The activities also include neighborhood clubs that meet regularly and excursions.

It's easy for a winner to smile. In the photo, Jonna Piipponen-Karkulowski, executive director of Lahti's closest service association, and Minna Hernesniemi, project worker of Kiinni Elämäsä activity, are holding the honorary certificate of the Senior Citizen of the Year award. — Jonna Piipponen-Karkulowski, executive director of the Lahti Lähimmäispalvelu association, and Minna Hernesniemi, a project worker of the Kiinni läves project, work for the elderly.

– Let’s think about how the young could get information about the lives of the elderly and how the young could bring something new to the lives of the elderly, says Piipponen-Karkulowski.

The young people have been involved, for example, in organizing a fashion show for the elderly and performing with the rapping senior choir of Lahti Lähimmäispalvelu.

For some elderly people, it has been important to be able to break boundaries in their activities.

– I think you can break boundaries even with a really small one. For example, daring to join a new group as an elderly person is already some kind of boundary breaking. But this activity of ours offers a platform that if you want to become a mannequin in a fashion show or appear in a video, it is possible.

Caught in life – activities include neighborhood clubs, groups, trips and events that meet regularly.

The Elderly Work of the Year award was given now for the fifteenth time. It is shared jointly by the Federation of Senior Citizens and Ilmarinen.

According to the reasons for the award, thanks to the activity, an open community of elderly people has been born in Lahti, which you can belong to in a way that suits you. In addition, the participation, well-being and activity of city residents living at home have increased.