HELSINKI, Finland / Iltasanomat / News / April 3, 2012
Helsinki Police have detained Tuesday morning two boys aged 12 and 15 who attacked and robbed an elderly man, 50, and separately an elderly woman aged 70. The duo's robbery tactic was to overthrow the older people with a bag they had and then take away their belongings.
____________________________________________________________
Credit: Reports and photographs are property of owners of intellectual rights.
Seniors World Chronicle, a not-for-profit, serves to chronicle and widen their reach.
Showing posts with label Finland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Finland. Show all posts
July 21, 2011
FINLAND: Economics-Growth-Size - This is too good not to share
LONDON, England / The Economist / Blogs / FreeExchange / July 20, 2011
Economics
FREE EXCHANGE
Growth
Size matters
FROM the department of too good not to share: a new paper from the University of Helsinki puts forward a novel theory of expansion with linguistic precision and flair:
The relationship with GDP was apparently U-shaped in 1985. The GDP-maximising length was 13.5 centimetres, but performance declined at lengths exceeding 16 centimetres. It's hard to say why. The author, one Tatu Westling, points out that male organ size is more strongly associated with economic growth than a country's political regime type, before suggesting that heightened self-esteem may be responsible. He concludes:
Copyright © The Economist Newspaper Limited 2011
__________________________________________________________
Credit: Reports and photographs are property of owners of intellectual rights.
Seniors World Chronicle, a not-for-profit, serves to chronicle and widen their reach.
FREE EXCHANGE
Growth
Size matters
FROM the department of too good not to share: a new paper from the University of Helsinki puts forward a novel theory of expansion with linguistic precision and flair:
It is argued here that the average size (the erect length, to be precise) of male organ in population has a strong predictive power of economic development during the period [1960-1985]. The exact causality can only be speculated at this point but the correlations are robust.
The relationship with GDP was apparently U-shaped in 1985. The GDP-maximising length was 13.5 centimetres, but performance declined at lengths exceeding 16 centimetres. It's hard to say why. The author, one Tatu Westling, points out that male organ size is more strongly associated with economic growth than a country's political regime type, before suggesting that heightened self-esteem may be responsible. He concludes:
Taken at face value the findings suggest that the 'male organ hypothesis' put forward here is quite penetrating an argument. Yet for the best of author's knowledge, male organ has not been touched in the growth literature before.Points to Mr Westling for delicacy. If nothing else, he's found a good way to enhance his profile. Given the attention he's brought to his university, he'll soon be asking for a bigger staff.
Copyright © The Economist Newspaper Limited 2011
__________________________________________________________
Credit: Reports and photographs are property of owners of intellectual rights.
Seniors World Chronicle, a not-for-profit, serves to chronicle and widen their reach.
May 14, 2010
FINLAND: Cheese boosts immune system of elderly
.
LONDON, England / CNN International / Health / Diet / Fitness / May 14, 2010
By Thair Shaikh, CNN
Eating cheese boosts the immune system of older people, according to a new study by scientists in Finland. Researchers found that cheese can act as a carrier for probiotic bacteria, widely regarded as beneficial to immune health.
Scientists at the University of Turku in Finland discovered that probiotic cheese can tackle the age-related deterioration of the immune system known as immunosenescene.
This can leave elderly people more vulnerable to infection and disease because it is harder for the body to kill cancerous cells and reduces the immune response to vaccinations and infections.
Gouda cheese, similar to the type used in the experiment that
proved it helped boost the immune system of the elderly.
Infectious diseases, chronic inflammation disorders and cancer are hallmarks of immunosenescene.
Dr. Fandi Ibrahim, lead author of the study published in the medical journal FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology, said: "The increase in the proportion of aged individuals in modern society makes finding innovative ways to thwart the deterioration of the immune system a priority.
"The intake of probiotic bacteria has been reported to enhance the immune response through other products [such as yogurt and certain milks] and now we have discovered that cheese can be a carrier of the same bacteria."
Nigel White, Secretary of the British Cheese Board, an umbrella organization representing cheesemakers, told CNN: "These [probiotic] cheeses have not gone down too well in the UK. They are more expensive and there wasn't sufficient scientific evidence on their benefits. The jury was out on their health claims... but this study does look very promising."
The team asked volunteers aged between 72 and 103, all of whom lived in the same care home, to eat either one slice of probiotic Gouda cheese or a slice of placebo cheese with their breakfast for four weeks.
The fact that all the volunteers were living in the same building helped to reduce any differences caused by variations in diet and other environmental factors, the study said.
Both the Gouda cheeses used in the experiment were commercially available, said the scientists. The probiotic Gouda cheese was rich in the bacteria Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 and Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM.
Probiotics are microorganisms -- in most cases bacteria -- that are similar to beneficial bacteria found in the human gut.
Blood tests were carried out to discover the effects of the probiotic bacteria contained within the cheese on the immune system.
Ibrahim said the results revealed a clear enhancement of natural and acquired immunity.
"The aim of our study was to see if specific probiotic bacteria in cheese would have immune enhancing effects on healthy older individuals," said Ibrahim.
"We have demonstrated that the regular intake of probiotic cheese can help to boost the immune system and that including it in a regular diet may help to improve an elderly person's immune response to external challenges." [rc]
© 2010 Cable News Network.
LONDON, England / CNN International / Health / Diet / Fitness / May 14, 2010
By Thair Shaikh, CNN
Eating cheese boosts the immune system of older people, according to a new study by scientists in Finland. Researchers found that cheese can act as a carrier for probiotic bacteria, widely regarded as beneficial to immune health.
This can leave elderly people more vulnerable to infection and disease because it is harder for the body to kill cancerous cells and reduces the immune response to vaccinations and infections.
Gouda cheese, similar to the type used in the experiment that
proved it helped boost the immune system of the elderly.
Infectious diseases, chronic inflammation disorders and cancer are hallmarks of immunosenescene.
Dr. Fandi Ibrahim, lead author of the study published in the medical journal FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology, said: "The increase in the proportion of aged individuals in modern society makes finding innovative ways to thwart the deterioration of the immune system a priority.
"The intake of probiotic bacteria has been reported to enhance the immune response through other products [such as yogurt and certain milks] and now we have discovered that cheese can be a carrier of the same bacteria."
Nigel White, Secretary of the British Cheese Board, an umbrella organization representing cheesemakers, told CNN: "These [probiotic] cheeses have not gone down too well in the UK. They are more expensive and there wasn't sufficient scientific evidence on their benefits. The jury was out on their health claims... but this study does look very promising."
The team asked volunteers aged between 72 and 103, all of whom lived in the same care home, to eat either one slice of probiotic Gouda cheese or a slice of placebo cheese with their breakfast for four weeks.
The fact that all the volunteers were living in the same building helped to reduce any differences caused by variations in diet and other environmental factors, the study said.
Both the Gouda cheeses used in the experiment were commercially available, said the scientists. The probiotic Gouda cheese was rich in the bacteria Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 and Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM.
Probiotics are microorganisms -- in most cases bacteria -- that are similar to beneficial bacteria found in the human gut.
Blood tests were carried out to discover the effects of the probiotic bacteria contained within the cheese on the immune system.
Ibrahim said the results revealed a clear enhancement of natural and acquired immunity.
"The aim of our study was to see if specific probiotic bacteria in cheese would have immune enhancing effects on healthy older individuals," said Ibrahim.
"We have demonstrated that the regular intake of probiotic cheese can help to boost the immune system and that including it in a regular diet may help to improve an elderly person's immune response to external challenges." [rc]
© 2010 Cable News Network.
April 7, 2010
FINLAND: Finnish centenarian awarded inventor's gold medal
.
BEIJING, China / The People's Daily / World / Europe/ April 7, 2010
Eemeli Väyrysen, a Finnish centenarian was awarded inventor's gold medal by Finnish Federation of Inventors' Associations in Helsinki on Tuesday.
Vayrynen, who is the oldest inventor in Finland, invented a new pattern potato planter in 2008 when he was 98-year-old. He has then won a national patent with the invention, which is specially designed for germinated seed potatoes.
Finnish Federation of Inventors' Associations, who sponsored Vayrynen to make the prototype potato planter in 2008 granted additional allowance to the 100-year-old inventor at the beginning of this year.
Eemeli Väyrysen Photo: Maahenki
Veijo Vaakanainen, chairman of board of the organization, said that it is very noteworthy and praiseworthy that Vayrynen could make invention at his age, and his creative power has been inspiration to all people in the Nordic country, where elderly people often suffer from dementia.
The centenarian Vayrynen, who used to run a gardening company with his wife when he was young, is now physically healthy. He looks after himself in his daily life and usually does some cooking. He is also known in Finland as father of Paavo Vayrynen, a famous Finnish politician and Finland's present minister of foreign trade and development.
Finnish Federation of Inventors' Associations was established in 1971 and consists of 23 inventors' associations in Finland, with about 1,100 investors and product developers. [rc]
Source: Xinhua
Eemeli Väyrysen, a Finnish centenarian was awarded inventor's gold medal by Finnish Federation of Inventors' Associations in Helsinki on Tuesday.
Vayrynen, who is the oldest inventor in Finland, invented a new pattern potato planter in 2008 when he was 98-year-old. He has then won a national patent with the invention, which is specially designed for germinated seed potatoes.
Finnish Federation of Inventors' Associations, who sponsored Vayrynen to make the prototype potato planter in 2008 granted additional allowance to the 100-year-old inventor at the beginning of this year.
Eemeli Väyrysen Photo: Maahenki
Veijo Vaakanainen, chairman of board of the organization, said that it is very noteworthy and praiseworthy that Vayrynen could make invention at his age, and his creative power has been inspiration to all people in the Nordic country, where elderly people often suffer from dementia.
The centenarian Vayrynen, who used to run a gardening company with his wife when he was young, is now physically healthy. He looks after himself in his daily life and usually does some cooking. He is also known in Finland as father of Paavo Vayrynen, a famous Finnish politician and Finland's present minister of foreign trade and development.
Finnish Federation of Inventors' Associations was established in 1971 and consists of 23 inventors' associations in Finland, with about 1,100 investors and product developers. [rc]
Source: Xinhua
March 17, 2010
FINLAND: Leena Peltonen-Palotie, Human Geneticist, Dies of Cancer
.
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania / The Scientist / March 17, 2010
By Bob Grant
Finnish-born geneticist and physician Leena Peltonen-Palotie, who uncovered numerous genetic mutations behind various human diseases, passed away in Finland last week at the age of 57.
Peltonen-Palotie helped establish the human genetics department at the Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, held appointments at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Boston, and served as the head of human genetics at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.
She succumbed to cancer on March 11.
"She was a world-class geneticist who was known throughout the world for her clinically relevant work in human genetics," said Gerald Levey, former dean of UCLA's Geffen School of Medicine who hired Peltonen-Palotie to lead the newly created human genetics department there in the late 1990s.
Leena Peltonen-Palotie (1952-2010)
Image: Academy of Finland
Peltonen-Palotie was a prolific researcher throughout her 37-year career in genetics. Much of her research had its roots in her native Finland -- a country that keeps extensive genealogical and medical records on its genetically isolated citizens -- where she identified 15 genes that play a role in different "Finnish heritage diseases," rare disorders such as Cohen syndrome and Meckel syndrome that are more prevalent in Finland than anywhere else in the world.
Peltonen-Palotie also tackled the genetics behind more common diseases, such as schizophrenia, lactose intolerance, obesity, and multiple sclerosis. In total, she published more than 500 scientific papers over her career, with three of her papers cited more than 500 times each, according to ISI.
Peltonen-Palotie also used what she learned from Finnish genetics to understand other populations, and focused on bringing that knowledge into the clinic, Mark Daly, a geneticist at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Broad Institute who collaborated with Peltonen-Palotie on several projects over the years, told The Scientist.
Straddling the line between research and clinician was one of Peltonen-Palotie's hallmarks, agreed Levey. "She and her group were really the quintessential translational researchers," he said. "They were doing high-class science, but they were asking clinical questions. That's why she had such an impact in her genetics research."
Peltonen-Palotie also waded into the public discussion on human genetics. "Leena was always at the forefront of the public policy discourse and the ethics discourse," said Daly. "It's extraordinarily rare that someone combines the highest level of scientific excellence, a remarkable dedication to training, and a commitment to public discussion. This is just a trifecta that's unmatched."
Obtaining her MD and PhD in Finland, Peltonen-Palotie did a postdoc at Rutgers University in New Jersey, then took a position in Finland's National Public Health Institute. In 1998, she returned to the US to take the reins of the fledgling human genetics department at UCLA's Geffen School of Medicine. Though she only stayed at UCLA until 2002, Peltonen-Palotie left her mark, largely through building what Levey called "a first-class training program and a first-class faculty in a relatively short period of time."
Peltonen-Palotie left UCLA for a professorship at the University of Helsinki, then accepted an appointment at the Broad Institute. A position as head of human genetics at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, and more research focusing on disease gene mapping, followed.
Peltonen-Palotie's accomplishments in science were matched by her personal warmth and approachability. "She had this very special magnetism that made her able to interact with and attract people," Levey said. "Leena had an amazing intellect, an extraordinary amount of energy. She was just an extraordinary woman -- full of life with a vision of where the field [of human genetics] should go."
"She was a tremendously warm, friendly, enthusiastic, and encouraging person," Daly added. "We're going to miss her tremendously."
Peltonen-Palotie mentored dozens of young scientists, supervising more than 70 PhD students over the course of her career, according to the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. "As outstanding a scientist that she was, she was also deeply committed to developing human genetics as a field," Daly recalled. "I don't know of anyone who trained more PhD students than her, and had those students remain more loyal to her."
"What she accomplished will last forever and will be built on," added Levey. "I have no doubt, even though she's gone, that those trainees will carry on her work and accomplish the kinds of things she accomplished. She will live on through all the trainees she mentored." [rc]
© 1986-2010 The Scientist
Finnish-born geneticist and physician Leena Peltonen-Palotie, who uncovered numerous genetic mutations behind various human diseases, passed away in Finland last week at the age of 57.
Peltonen-Palotie helped establish the human genetics department at the Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, held appointments at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Boston, and served as the head of human genetics at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.
She succumbed to cancer on March 11.
"She was a world-class geneticist who was known throughout the world for her clinically relevant work in human genetics," said Gerald Levey, former dean of UCLA's Geffen School of Medicine who hired Peltonen-Palotie to lead the newly created human genetics department there in the late 1990s.
Leena Peltonen-Palotie (1952-2010)
Image: Academy of Finland
Peltonen-Palotie was a prolific researcher throughout her 37-year career in genetics. Much of her research had its roots in her native Finland -- a country that keeps extensive genealogical and medical records on its genetically isolated citizens -- where she identified 15 genes that play a role in different "Finnish heritage diseases," rare disorders such as Cohen syndrome and Meckel syndrome that are more prevalent in Finland than anywhere else in the world.
Peltonen-Palotie also tackled the genetics behind more common diseases, such as schizophrenia, lactose intolerance, obesity, and multiple sclerosis. In total, she published more than 500 scientific papers over her career, with three of her papers cited more than 500 times each, according to ISI.
Peltonen-Palotie also used what she learned from Finnish genetics to understand other populations, and focused on bringing that knowledge into the clinic, Mark Daly, a geneticist at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Broad Institute who collaborated with Peltonen-Palotie on several projects over the years, told The Scientist.
Straddling the line between research and clinician was one of Peltonen-Palotie's hallmarks, agreed Levey. "She and her group were really the quintessential translational researchers," he said. "They were doing high-class science, but they were asking clinical questions. That's why she had such an impact in her genetics research."
Peltonen-Palotie also waded into the public discussion on human genetics. "Leena was always at the forefront of the public policy discourse and the ethics discourse," said Daly. "It's extraordinarily rare that someone combines the highest level of scientific excellence, a remarkable dedication to training, and a commitment to public discussion. This is just a trifecta that's unmatched."
Obtaining her MD and PhD in Finland, Peltonen-Palotie did a postdoc at Rutgers University in New Jersey, then took a position in Finland's National Public Health Institute. In 1998, she returned to the US to take the reins of the fledgling human genetics department at UCLA's Geffen School of Medicine. Though she only stayed at UCLA until 2002, Peltonen-Palotie left her mark, largely through building what Levey called "a first-class training program and a first-class faculty in a relatively short period of time."
Peltonen-Palotie left UCLA for a professorship at the University of Helsinki, then accepted an appointment at the Broad Institute. A position as head of human genetics at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, and more research focusing on disease gene mapping, followed.
Peltonen-Palotie's accomplishments in science were matched by her personal warmth and approachability. "She had this very special magnetism that made her able to interact with and attract people," Levey said. "Leena had an amazing intellect, an extraordinary amount of energy. She was just an extraordinary woman -- full of life with a vision of where the field [of human genetics] should go."
"She was a tremendously warm, friendly, enthusiastic, and encouraging person," Daly added. "We're going to miss her tremendously."
Peltonen-Palotie mentored dozens of young scientists, supervising more than 70 PhD students over the course of her career, according to the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. "As outstanding a scientist that she was, she was also deeply committed to developing human genetics as a field," Daly recalled. "I don't know of anyone who trained more PhD students than her, and had those students remain more loyal to her."
"What she accomplished will last forever and will be built on," added Levey. "I have no doubt, even though she's gone, that those trainees will carry on her work and accomplish the kinds of things she accomplished. She will live on through all the trainees she mentored." [rc]
© 1986-2010 The Scientist
September 19, 2009
FINLAND: Number of old-age pension applicants to increase dramatically this year
.
HELSINKI, Finland / Helsingin Sanomat / Business & Finance / September 19, 2009
Large age-groups applying for pensions at accelerated rate in recessionary times
According to the largest private-sector employee pension insurers Varma and Ilmarinen, the number of applications for an old-age pension is estimated to grow by as much as 30 to 40 per cent in the course of the current year.
”Half of the growth can be explained by the fact that the baby-boomer generation will be leaving the workforce, while the other half is attributable to the financial situation”, estimates Senior Vice President Timo Aro at Ilmarinen.
Pirkko Hamalainen and Heikki Hamalainen, a retired couple
According to the calculations made by Ilmarinen, the number of applications for an old-age pension will increase nearly by 40 per cent from last year.
”In our view, the economic decline and the related uncertainty are leading to a situation in which people are more likely to apply for an old-age pension than when times are good”, Aro believes.
Director Jyrki Rasi, from the pension services at Varma, says that the number of old-age pension applications submitted to Varma has gone up this year already by more than 30 per cent compared with the corresponding period last year.
Most applications are attributable to the large baby-boomer age group, but the current recession is also to blame.
”The growth in the unemployment rate can also be seen to be reflected in the figures”, Rasi adds.
Since 2005, it has been possible to take old-age retirement between the ages of 63 and 68 in the private sector.
However, the over-63-year-olds are encouraged to continue to work by granting a so-called ”super accumulation” of pension. This means that after the age of 63 the pension will accrue at a higher rate of 4.5 per cent of the earnings.
However, the prospect of securing a higher pension does not appear to be enticing people to stay in work longer.
The records of the Finnish Centre for Pensions for last year show that most people retired as soon as it was possible - at the age of 63.
The atmosphere at workplaces may also have an impact on the early retirement.
”At some workplaces, there may be a certain pressure for the older employees aged 63 to give up their jobs to make way for the younger generation”, Rasi estimates.
The goal of the government and the labour market organisations is to keep people at work an average of three years longer than today. In other words, the average retirement age should be raised by three years from the current 59.4 years by 2025.
During the upswing, the situation looked good already. The employment rate of ageing employees improved, while the retirement age moved upward to some extent.
Today it looks as if the average retirement age could turn downwards again, as some people are being forced to enter the unemployment pathway to retirement already below the age of 60.
The tasks of the working groups set up to investigate the raising of the minimum age for old-age pensions are bound to become more difficult.
The dispute over the government’s decision on raising the minimum age for old-age pensions has been transferred to a working group led by Jukka Rantala, the Managing Director of the Finnish Centre for Pensions.
Another similar working group discussing possibilities to raise the minimum age for old-age pensions is being led by director Jukka Ahtela of the Confederation of Finnish Industry (EK).
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen proposed last winter that the minimum age for an old-age pension should be raised in stages to 65 years from the present 63. The labour market organisations roundly rejected the idea, and the PM had to withdraw his proposal. [rc]
Copyright: Helsingin Sanomat
Pirkko Hamalainen and Heikki Hamalainen, a retired couple
According to the calculations made by Ilmarinen, the number of applications for an old-age pension will increase nearly by 40 per cent from last year.
”In our view, the economic decline and the related uncertainty are leading to a situation in which people are more likely to apply for an old-age pension than when times are good”, Aro believes.
Director Jyrki Rasi, from the pension services at Varma, says that the number of old-age pension applications submitted to Varma has gone up this year already by more than 30 per cent compared with the corresponding period last year.
Most applications are attributable to the large baby-boomer age group, but the current recession is also to blame.
”The growth in the unemployment rate can also be seen to be reflected in the figures”, Rasi adds.
Since 2005, it has been possible to take old-age retirement between the ages of 63 and 68 in the private sector.
However, the over-63-year-olds are encouraged to continue to work by granting a so-called ”super accumulation” of pension. This means that after the age of 63 the pension will accrue at a higher rate of 4.5 per cent of the earnings.
However, the prospect of securing a higher pension does not appear to be enticing people to stay in work longer.
The records of the Finnish Centre for Pensions for last year show that most people retired as soon as it was possible - at the age of 63.
The atmosphere at workplaces may also have an impact on the early retirement.
”At some workplaces, there may be a certain pressure for the older employees aged 63 to give up their jobs to make way for the younger generation”, Rasi estimates.
The goal of the government and the labour market organisations is to keep people at work an average of three years longer than today. In other words, the average retirement age should be raised by three years from the current 59.4 years by 2025.
During the upswing, the situation looked good already. The employment rate of ageing employees improved, while the retirement age moved upward to some extent.
Today it looks as if the average retirement age could turn downwards again, as some people are being forced to enter the unemployment pathway to retirement already below the age of 60.
The tasks of the working groups set up to investigate the raising of the minimum age for old-age pensions are bound to become more difficult.
The dispute over the government’s decision on raising the minimum age for old-age pensions has been transferred to a working group led by Jukka Rantala, the Managing Director of the Finnish Centre for Pensions.
Another similar working group discussing possibilities to raise the minimum age for old-age pensions is being led by director Jukka Ahtela of the Confederation of Finnish Industry (EK).
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen proposed last winter that the minimum age for an old-age pension should be raised in stages to 65 years from the present 63. The labour market organisations roundly rejected the idea, and the PM had to withdraw his proposal. [rc]
Copyright: Helsingin Sanomat
July 27, 2009
FINLAND: Beauty Fades? Ha!
.
NEW YORK, NY / Forbes.com / Science & Health / July 27, 2009
By Parmy Olson
LONDON -
Women are apparently becoming more attractive over time, and it's not because plastic surgery has become more popular or men are drinking more beer.
The real Mona Lisa may have been less attractive than women today.
A study by the University of Helsinki has found that women are actually becoming more beautiful over time, thanks to the evolutionary process. University researcher Markus Jokela collected his data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, a long-term examination of a random sampling of 10,317 men and women who graduated from Wisconsin high schools in 1957.
Nearly five decades later, people in a separate survey were asked to look at the yearbook photos of around 3,250 of the Wisconsin participants and rate them as attractive or extremely attractive, on a scale of 1 to 11. The women who were rated attractive on average had 16% more children than their less-attractive counterparts.
There was less of a discrepancy when it came to men. The least-attractive men simply tended to have fewer children than their more-attractive counterparts, but Jokela suggests that might have more to do with the social effects of finding a spouse than evolution.
Why is beauty increasing in women over generations? It may come as no surprise to some that physical attractiveness is more important to men than to women. "Women's attractiveness functions as a marker or signal of fecundity and gives some indication about health," Jokela explains. "Men, when they are selecting a mate, are more interested in physical attractiveness in women."
Jokela's study suggests that even as attractive women tend to have more children than their plainer peers, more-attractive men tend to have more daughters than sons. The cycle thus continues over time, suggesting that modeling agencies in the year 3000 will have a glut of applicants and cosmetic surgery will be a more-subtle affair, if it exists at all. "The effect is very small and over several generations," says Jokela.
Some caveats to consider: Jokela's study is based mainly on white high-school graduates from a single U.S. state; also, the study rated "attractiveness" in photographs, so it couldn't take into account things like voice and general mannerisms. Even so, it suggests that women today have a lot less to complain about in terms of what they inherit physically than their ancestors did. [rc]
2009 Forbes.com LLC™
Women are apparently becoming more attractive over time, and it's not because plastic surgery has become more popular or men are drinking more beer.
The real Mona Lisa may have been less attractive than women today.
A study by the University of Helsinki has found that women are actually becoming more beautiful over time, thanks to the evolutionary process. University researcher Markus Jokela collected his data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, a long-term examination of a random sampling of 10,317 men and women who graduated from Wisconsin high schools in 1957.
Nearly five decades later, people in a separate survey were asked to look at the yearbook photos of around 3,250 of the Wisconsin participants and rate them as attractive or extremely attractive, on a scale of 1 to 11. The women who were rated attractive on average had 16% more children than their less-attractive counterparts.
There was less of a discrepancy when it came to men. The least-attractive men simply tended to have fewer children than their more-attractive counterparts, but Jokela suggests that might have more to do with the social effects of finding a spouse than evolution.
Why is beauty increasing in women over generations? It may come as no surprise to some that physical attractiveness is more important to men than to women. "Women's attractiveness functions as a marker or signal of fecundity and gives some indication about health," Jokela explains. "Men, when they are selecting a mate, are more interested in physical attractiveness in women."
Jokela's study suggests that even as attractive women tend to have more children than their plainer peers, more-attractive men tend to have more daughters than sons. The cycle thus continues over time, suggesting that modeling agencies in the year 3000 will have a glut of applicants and cosmetic surgery will be a more-subtle affair, if it exists at all. "The effect is very small and over several generations," says Jokela.
Some caveats to consider: Jokela's study is based mainly on white high-school graduates from a single U.S. state; also, the study rated "attractiveness" in photographs, so it couldn't take into account things like voice and general mannerisms. Even so, it suggests that women today have a lot less to complain about in terms of what they inherit physically than their ancestors did. [rc]
2009 Forbes.com LLC™
April 16, 2009
FINLAND: Fear of moving outdoors may shackle an older person home
.
EVERGREEN, Virginia / PhyOrg.com / Medicine & Health / April 16, 2009
Fear may create walking difficulties in a short period of time.
Fear of moving outdoors is very common among older people and increases the risk of developing self-reported difficulties in walking.
The research carried out at the Finnish Centre for Interdisciplinary Gerontology at the University of Jyväskylä shows that fear of moving outdoors increases the risk developing difficulties in walking among physically fit older people living at home. The effect of fear causing walking difficulties could be observed very soon, even during the first six months of observation.
The fear of moving outdoors is increased by various negative environmental features, such as poor condition of streets, hilly terrain around home and traffic noise. Individual features play a role as well: poor socioeconomic status, musculoskeletal diseases, and slow walking speed predispose older people to the fear of moving outdoors.
In older people, loss of the ability to move outdoors may threaten independent living in the community and participation in social and physical activities. Outdoor physical activity, particularly walking, plays a key role in the maintenance of functional independence in old age. Fear also restricts the outdoor activity of those older people who would otherwise be physically fit to move independently.
- People afraid of moving outdoors should be recognized early, and suitable support activities should be created for them, thus preventing further disabilities, suggests researcher Merja Rantakokko.
Fear may be the first sign of future disability problems. On the other hand restricted outdoor movement caused by fear and decrease in activity may be partially responsible for the development of walking difficulties.
727 people between ages 75 to 81 years living in the Jyväskylä region participated in the preliminary interviews of the Screening and Counseling for Physical Activity and Mobility project, which is a joint project of the Finnish Centre for Interdisciplinary Gerontology and the City of Jyväskylä. 314 people participated in the 3,5 year observational study in which telephone interviews on mobility were conducted three times at 6-month intervals.
Source: University of Jyvaeskylae
Merja Rantakokko E-mail: merja.rantakokko@jyu.fi
Publication information:
Rantakokko M, Mänty M, Iwarsson S, Törmäkangas T, Leinonen R, Heikkinen E, Rantanen T. Fear of moving outdoors and development of outdoor walking difficulty in older people. The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2009;57(4):634-640.
© PhysOrg.com 2003-2009
February 27, 2009
FINLAND: Organised labour angered by government decision on old-age pensions
.
HELSINKI, Finland / Helsingin Sanomat / February 27, 2009
Ihalainen says move to raise retirement age is “serious departure from tripartite arrangements”
SAK President Lauri Ihalainen was angry on Wednesday upon hearing that the government had made a decision on raising the minimum age for old-age pensions, without first discussing it with the labour market organisations.
Photo: Hannes Heikura / HS
Lauri Ihalainen, President of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), feels that the government’s decision on Tuesday to raise the minimum age of old-age pensions to 65 is a serious breach of trust.
Organised labour has come out against the increase in the pension age. SAK, the Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees (STTK), and the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff (AKAVA) also complained about the way in which the government made the decision, which came without the customary consultation with the labour market organisations.
“It is the first time in which the government makes unilateral decisions on such a significant issue of the work pension system and benefits, without listening to us”, Ihalainen says.
To read full report, click here.
Source: Helsingin Sanomat
SAK President Lauri Ihalainen was angry on Wednesday upon hearing that the government had made a decision on raising the minimum age for old-age pensions, without first discussing it with the labour market organisations.
Photo: Hannes Heikura / HS
Lauri Ihalainen, President of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), feels that the government’s decision on Tuesday to raise the minimum age of old-age pensions to 65 is a serious breach of trust.
Organised labour has come out against the increase in the pension age. SAK, the Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees (STTK), and the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff (AKAVA) also complained about the way in which the government made the decision, which came without the customary consultation with the labour market organisations.
“It is the first time in which the government makes unilateral decisions on such a significant issue of the work pension system and benefits, without listening to us”, Ihalainen says.
To read full report, click here.
Source: Helsingin Sanomat
February 25, 2009
FINLAND: Long working hours may raise risk of mental decline, perhaps even dementia
.
LONDON, England / BBC News / Europe / Health / February 25, 2009
Long working hours may raise the risk of mental decline and possibly dementia, research suggests.
The Finnish-led study was based on analysis of 2,214 middle-aged British civil servants.
The stress of long hours may be a factor
It found that those working more than 55 hours a week had poorer mental skills than those who worked a standard working week.
The American Journal of Epidemiology study found hard workers had problems with short-term memory and word recall.
Lead researcher Dr Marianna Virtanen, from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, said: "The disadvantages of overtime work should be taken seriously."
It is not known why working long hours might have an adverse effect on the brain.
However, the researchers say key factors could include increased sleeping problems, depression, an unhealthy lifestyle and a raised risk of cardiovascular disease, possibly linked to stress.
The civil servants who took part in the study took five different tests of their mental function, once between 1997 and 1999, and again between 2002 and 2004.
Those doing the most overtime recorded lower scores in two of the five tests, assessing reasoning and vocabulary.
Cumulative effect
Working long hours. Illustration: Corbis/ScanPix
The effects were cumulative, the longer the working week was the worse the test results were.
Employees with long working hours also had shorter sleeping hours, reported more symptoms of depression and used more alcohol than those with normal working hours.
Professor Mika Kivimäki, who also worked on the study, said "We will go on with this study question in the future.
"It is particularly important to examine whether the effects are long-lasting and whether long working hours predict more serious conditions such as dementia."
Professor Cary Cooper, an expert in workplace stress at the University of Lancaster, said it had been long established that consistently working long hours was bad for general health, and now this study suggested it was also bad for mental functioning.
He said: "This should say to employers that insisting people work long hours is actually not good for your business, and that there is a business case for making sure people have a good work-life balance.
"But my worry is that in a recession people will actually work longer hours. There will be a culture of "presenteeism" - people will go to work even if they are ill because they want to show commitment, and make sure they are not the next to be made redundant."
Harriet Millward, deputy chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "This study should give pause for thought to workaholics.
"We already know that dementia risk can be reduced by maintaining a balanced diet, regular social interactions and exercising both our bodies and minds. Perhaps work-life balance should be accounted for too."
© BBC MMIX
Long working hours may raise the risk of mental decline and possibly dementia, research suggests.
The Finnish-led study was based on analysis of 2,214 middle-aged British civil servants.
The stress of long hours may be a factor
It found that those working more than 55 hours a week had poorer mental skills than those who worked a standard working week.
The American Journal of Epidemiology study found hard workers had problems with short-term memory and word recall.
Lead researcher Dr Marianna Virtanen, from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, said: "The disadvantages of overtime work should be taken seriously."
It is not known why working long hours might have an adverse effect on the brain.
However, the researchers say key factors could include increased sleeping problems, depression, an unhealthy lifestyle and a raised risk of cardiovascular disease, possibly linked to stress.
The civil servants who took part in the study took five different tests of their mental function, once between 1997 and 1999, and again between 2002 and 2004.
Those doing the most overtime recorded lower scores in two of the five tests, assessing reasoning and vocabulary.
Cumulative effect
Working long hours. Illustration: Corbis/ScanPix
The effects were cumulative, the longer the working week was the worse the test results were.
Employees with long working hours also had shorter sleeping hours, reported more symptoms of depression and used more alcohol than those with normal working hours.
Professor Mika Kivimäki, who also worked on the study, said "We will go on with this study question in the future.
"It is particularly important to examine whether the effects are long-lasting and whether long working hours predict more serious conditions such as dementia."
Professor Cary Cooper, an expert in workplace stress at the University of Lancaster, said it had been long established that consistently working long hours was bad for general health, and now this study suggested it was also bad for mental functioning.
He said: "This should say to employers that insisting people work long hours is actually not good for your business, and that there is a business case for making sure people have a good work-life balance.
"But my worry is that in a recession people will actually work longer hours. There will be a culture of "presenteeism" - people will go to work even if they are ill because they want to show commitment, and make sure they are not the next to be made redundant."
Harriet Millward, deputy chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "This study should give pause for thought to workaholics.
"We already know that dementia risk can be reduced by maintaining a balanced diet, regular social interactions and exercising both our bodies and minds. Perhaps work-life balance should be accounted for too."
© BBC MMIX
FINLAND: Getting Older In A Foreign Land
.
HELSINKI, Finland / Helsingin Sanomat / February 25, 2009
More than 15,000 foreigners over the age of 55 are now living here; many miss friends and yearn for more to do with their time
By Irina Vähäsarja
Venezuelan Gustavo Garcia, 62, is a busy pensioner. He lives in Espoo with his wife and three sons aged 10, 8, and 3, whom he drives to school and kindergarten every day. He is also actively involved in organisational activities. ”Learning the language of the new home country is very important for an immigrant. Otherwise one could easily become isolated and get sulky”, Garcia says. In the picture son Gabriel is sitting on his father’s lap. Photo: Hanna-Kaisa Hamalainen
The number of elderly immigrants living in Finland has grown almost threefold over a decade. In spite of this fact, these immigrant grandmothers and grandfathers have not been much discussed so far.
”They are such a marginal group that the social service system has not yet become really conscious of their existence”, says Hilkka Linderborg, a planner in the IkäMamu network at The Central Union for the Welfare of the Aged.
Last autumn, Afghani Hassin Hassan, 63, and her husband Nader could finally move to a home of their own in Helsinki’s district of Tapanila. Previously they lived in the reception centre in Kyläsaari where they arrived in the summer of 2005, after having applied for asylum in Finland. Hassin misses her three young-adult children, who live in Pakistan but would like to move to Finland. She studies Finnish and attends handicraft classes. Photo: Liisa Takala
The IkäMamu network is a service supporting those who work for the benefit of the elderly immigrants in the population.
The group of the aged includes all immigrants aged 55 and above, as the life expectancy in many countries is clearly lower than that in Finland.
The lion's share of the immigrants come from the former Soviet Union. Some of them are practically illiterate, while others are highly educated.
”The only factor connecting them all is their migration into a foreign country. For aged people it is a much greater change than it is for younger ones, especially if they are separated from their family”, Linderborg notes.
Her friends mean everything to Silva Timofeeva, 73. Last week son Vadim came from Petrozavodsk to visit his mother and father who live in an assisted living facility in Helsinki’s district of Myllypuro, as Jaroslav Timofeeva is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. ”In Russia the level of care for the elderly is poor and medicines are expensive. Here the situation is better”, says Silva Timofeeva. She believes that her knowledge of Finnish has made it easier to adapt into Finnish society and to find friends. Photo: Hanna-Kaisa Hamalainen
It takes time to build a social network if one remains outside working life and schools, and it is particularly difficult for those who do not speak the language of their new home country.
In some cases illnesses are also bound to hinder communication.
”Even the family members do not necessarily know how the service system for senior citizens operates. Elderly immigrants cannot be able to take care of their own interests, if they do not even know what kind of benefits are available”, Linderborg argues.
She also thinks that more group activities should be organised for ageing immigrants in order to prevent marginalisation and isolation.
The task would be perfect for various organisations and congregations, but even municipalities could take more responsibility for this immigrant group.
”One has to locate these people and to fetch them from their homes, while they also have to be asked what kind of activities they would prefer”, Linderborg urges.
For Ukrainian Petro Schramchuk, 61, the most important thing is his family: his wife Anna, their grown-up children - a son and a daughter - and four grandchildren. Schramchuk moved to Finland in December 2002, and now lives in Helsinki’s district of Vuosaari. His children and their families had come here already many years earlier in search of work. His best friends live in Ukraine, but in addition to his family, he has just a few acquaintances in Finland. He likes to spend time with his grandchildren, taking them to sports activities, and reading and playing with them. A former electrician, he knows that not speaking Finnish is a hindrance to finding a job, even though he still feels quite able to work. Photo: Liisa Takala
For most immigrants it would be difficult to cross the threshold and join pensioner organisations. Apart from language problems, attitude questions are another reason for the situation.
”One tends to imagine that other people get it all, while we get nothing. Broad-mindedness should be increased on both sides”, Linderborg adds.
Linderborg also points out that immigrants should not be seen as simply a means to fill gaps in the labour market.
”Even those immigrants who are not useful from the system’s point of view must have the right to grow old in a dignified manner, even in a foreign country”, Linderborg concludes.
FACTFILE: The number of elderly immigrants aged 55 and above, by language. Russian-speakers account for practically as many elderly foreigners living in Finland as the next 13 language-groups put together. English-speakers naturally include those from both sides of the Atlantic and from Australia and New Zealand.
Russian 6,030 - Estonian 2,068 - English 1,272 - German 1,145 - Polish 363 - Arabic 361 - Spanish 327 - Somali 313 - Turkish 309 - Vietnamese 292 - French 287- Farsi 283 - Serbo-Croat 200 - Chinese 195
Source: Statistics Finland
Links: The Central Union for the Welfare of the Aged
IRINA VÄHÄSARJA / Helsingin Sanomat
irina.vahasarja@hs.fi
Click to see original Helsingin Sanomat report
Venezuelan Gustavo Garcia, 62, is a busy pensioner. He lives in Espoo with his wife and three sons aged 10, 8, and 3, whom he drives to school and kindergarten every day. He is also actively involved in organisational activities. ”Learning the language of the new home country is very important for an immigrant. Otherwise one could easily become isolated and get sulky”, Garcia says. In the picture son Gabriel is sitting on his father’s lap. Photo: Hanna-Kaisa Hamalainen
The number of elderly immigrants living in Finland has grown almost threefold over a decade. In spite of this fact, these immigrant grandmothers and grandfathers have not been much discussed so far.
”They are such a marginal group that the social service system has not yet become really conscious of their existence”, says Hilkka Linderborg, a planner in the IkäMamu network at The Central Union for the Welfare of the Aged.
Last autumn, Afghani Hassin Hassan, 63, and her husband Nader could finally move to a home of their own in Helsinki’s district of Tapanila. Previously they lived in the reception centre in Kyläsaari where they arrived in the summer of 2005, after having applied for asylum in Finland. Hassin misses her three young-adult children, who live in Pakistan but would like to move to Finland. She studies Finnish and attends handicraft classes. Photo: Liisa Takala
The IkäMamu network is a service supporting those who work for the benefit of the elderly immigrants in the population.
The group of the aged includes all immigrants aged 55 and above, as the life expectancy in many countries is clearly lower than that in Finland.
The lion's share of the immigrants come from the former Soviet Union. Some of them are practically illiterate, while others are highly educated.
”The only factor connecting them all is their migration into a foreign country. For aged people it is a much greater change than it is for younger ones, especially if they are separated from their family”, Linderborg notes.
Her friends mean everything to Silva Timofeeva, 73. Last week son Vadim came from Petrozavodsk to visit his mother and father who live in an assisted living facility in Helsinki’s district of Myllypuro, as Jaroslav Timofeeva is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. ”In Russia the level of care for the elderly is poor and medicines are expensive. Here the situation is better”, says Silva Timofeeva. She believes that her knowledge of Finnish has made it easier to adapt into Finnish society and to find friends. Photo: Hanna-Kaisa Hamalainen
It takes time to build a social network if one remains outside working life and schools, and it is particularly difficult for those who do not speak the language of their new home country.
In some cases illnesses are also bound to hinder communication.
”Even the family members do not necessarily know how the service system for senior citizens operates. Elderly immigrants cannot be able to take care of their own interests, if they do not even know what kind of benefits are available”, Linderborg argues.
She also thinks that more group activities should be organised for ageing immigrants in order to prevent marginalisation and isolation.
The task would be perfect for various organisations and congregations, but even municipalities could take more responsibility for this immigrant group.
”One has to locate these people and to fetch them from their homes, while they also have to be asked what kind of activities they would prefer”, Linderborg urges.
For Ukrainian Petro Schramchuk, 61, the most important thing is his family: his wife Anna, their grown-up children - a son and a daughter - and four grandchildren. Schramchuk moved to Finland in December 2002, and now lives in Helsinki’s district of Vuosaari. His children and their families had come here already many years earlier in search of work. His best friends live in Ukraine, but in addition to his family, he has just a few acquaintances in Finland. He likes to spend time with his grandchildren, taking them to sports activities, and reading and playing with them. A former electrician, he knows that not speaking Finnish is a hindrance to finding a job, even though he still feels quite able to work. Photo: Liisa Takala
For most immigrants it would be difficult to cross the threshold and join pensioner organisations. Apart from language problems, attitude questions are another reason for the situation.
”One tends to imagine that other people get it all, while we get nothing. Broad-mindedness should be increased on both sides”, Linderborg adds.
Linderborg also points out that immigrants should not be seen as simply a means to fill gaps in the labour market.
”Even those immigrants who are not useful from the system’s point of view must have the right to grow old in a dignified manner, even in a foreign country”, Linderborg concludes.
FACTFILE: The number of elderly immigrants aged 55 and above, by language. Russian-speakers account for practically as many elderly foreigners living in Finland as the next 13 language-groups put together. English-speakers naturally include those from both sides of the Atlantic and from Australia and New Zealand.
Russian 6,030 - Estonian 2,068 - English 1,272 - German 1,145 - Polish 363 - Arabic 361 - Spanish 327 - Somali 313 - Turkish 309 - Vietnamese 292 - French 287- Farsi 283 - Serbo-Croat 200 - Chinese 195
Source: Statistics Finland
Links: The Central Union for the Welfare of the Aged
IRINA VÄHÄSARJA / Helsingin Sanomat
irina.vahasarja@hs.fi
Click to see original Helsingin Sanomat report
February 13, 2009
FINLAND: Karelian language is now spoken only by a couple of thousand elderly
.
HELSINKI, Uusimaa, Finland / YLE News / February 13, 2009
Joensuu University has launched Finland’s first Karelian language professorship.
Karelian associations say they hope the appointment will help raise younger generations' interest in Karelian language and culture. Karelian language classes are now offered in two places in the world: Joensuu and Petroskoi, Russia. The Joensuu region’s strong Karelian cultural heritage has been the driver behind the new professorship.
The Karelian language, which is closely related to Finnish, is today spoken by a couple of thousand of elderly people.
Marjatta Palander, a Finnish-language professor, says the new university appointment will give the language a real boost.
“Children and grandchildren of Karelian evacuees live in eastern Finland. These are people who are still in touch with their Karelian roots,” says Palander.
“It would also be good to bring Karelian language classes into schools and into areas where Karelians live,” says Pekka Zakov, the newly-minted professor of Karelian language and culture at Joensuu University.
Karelian for Kindergartners? In an attempt to infuse new life into a dying language, the Karelian Language Association is pushing for the establishment of a Karelian language immersion group at a kindergarten in the eastern town of Nurmes.
The Republic of Karelia today is divided between Finland and Russia.
“If parents are unable to speak the language of their ancestors and can’t pass it on to their children, then immersion groups become crucial,” says Timo Munne of the Karelian Language Association.
YLE
HELSINKI, Uusimaa, Finland / YLE News / February 13, 2009
Joensuu University has launched Finland’s first Karelian language professorship.
Karelian associations say they hope the appointment will help raise younger generations' interest in Karelian language and culture. Karelian language classes are now offered in two places in the world: Joensuu and Petroskoi, Russia. The Joensuu region’s strong Karelian cultural heritage has been the driver behind the new professorship.
The Karelian language, which is closely related to Finnish, is today spoken by a couple of thousand of elderly people.
Marjatta Palander, a Finnish-language professor, says the new university appointment will give the language a real boost.
“Children and grandchildren of Karelian evacuees live in eastern Finland. These are people who are still in touch with their Karelian roots,” says Palander.
“It would also be good to bring Karelian language classes into schools and into areas where Karelians live,” says Pekka Zakov, the newly-minted professor of Karelian language and culture at Joensuu University.
Karelian for Kindergartners? In an attempt to infuse new life into a dying language, the Karelian Language Association is pushing for the establishment of a Karelian language immersion group at a kindergarten in the eastern town of Nurmes.
The Republic of Karelia today is divided between Finland and Russia.
“If parents are unable to speak the language of their ancestors and can’t pass it on to their children, then immersion groups become crucial,” says Timo Munne of the Karelian Language Association.
YLE
January 23, 2009
FINLAND: Report calls for near 5-year increase in retirement age
.
HELSINKI, Finland / Helsingen Sanomat / January 23, 2009
The retirement age needs to be raised, the unemployment-based “retirement tube” eliminated, the conditions for part-time retirement tightened, and the age limit for voluntary supplementary pensions raised, says a report on ageing commissioned by the government and drawn up by the Economic Council of Finland.
A number of measures have been taken to cope with the prospect of an ageing population, but the report says that more measures are needed.
“No matter how we look at it, the preparations are not sufficient. Something has to be done”, says Undersecretary of State Vesa Vihriälä of the Prime Minister’s Office.
At 74, Architect Jaakko Rantanen still enjoys his work, and although he receives a pension, he has no immediate plans to shut down his architect’s office. Photo: Kimmo Raisanen / Helsingen Sanomat
At the present pace, Finland will not cope with the ageing of the population, the report warns. State revenues will not cover expenses, if policy is not changed. This sustainability gap means an immediate and permanent need to raise taxes, or cut spending.
The gap used to be about one per cent of GDP, or nearly EUR 2 billion on the basis of current figures.
The ongoing recession has boosted the sustainability gap to 2.5 per cent, with the government borrowing money for economic stimulation.
There are three possible solutions to the problem: raising taxes, cutting benefits offered by the welfare state, or enacting structural changes.
The report urges structural changes. In practice this means having people stay at work for a longer time, greater efficiency in public services, and promoting public health.
Improved efficiency could be achieved simply by rising to the same level as the other Nordic Countries. Finns aged 55 take part in work less frequently than those in other countries. This especially applies to men.
At the present rate, the supply of labour threatens to decline by 190,000 people by 2050, but if Finland reaches the level of Finland, Denmark, and Norway in retirement age, the gap would be just 20,000.
Incentives to retire are too attractive, according to those drawing up the report. The incentives are seen to encourage people to leave work too soon.
Vihriälä says that early retirement is a special problem that needs rectification.
At least the “unemployment tube” needs to be removed, and restrictions need to be placed on the conditions for part time retirement. The unemployment tube means that the jobless who are nearing retirement age are entitled to extended unemployment benefits before being entitled to a pension. The system applies to workers above the age of 57.
The minimum age for part-time retirement is 58, and for early old-age pension it is 62. Regular old-age pension can start at the age of 63.
After the early retirement options are blocked, the Economic Council says that the next step is a re-examination of the retirement ages themselves. Under the proposal, age limits need to be linked with the rising life expectancy in Finland. If working careers could be extended as the life span grows longer, the amount of available labour might even grow.
The need for raising the retirement age is calculated at 4.5 years by 2050.
There is no need to intervene in the level of pensions. The report expresses confidence that Finland will make it through the pension promises that it has made. Pensions are protected by legislation and the investment of pension funds. However, the availability of money for elderly care, health care, and other public services is less certain.
Helsingin Sanomat
At 74, Architect Jaakko Rantanen still enjoys his work, and although he receives a pension, he has no immediate plans to shut down his architect’s office. Photo: Kimmo Raisanen / Helsingen Sanomat
At the present pace, Finland will not cope with the ageing of the population, the report warns. State revenues will not cover expenses, if policy is not changed. This sustainability gap means an immediate and permanent need to raise taxes, or cut spending.
The gap used to be about one per cent of GDP, or nearly EUR 2 billion on the basis of current figures.
The ongoing recession has boosted the sustainability gap to 2.5 per cent, with the government borrowing money for economic stimulation.
There are three possible solutions to the problem: raising taxes, cutting benefits offered by the welfare state, or enacting structural changes.
The report urges structural changes. In practice this means having people stay at work for a longer time, greater efficiency in public services, and promoting public health.
Improved efficiency could be achieved simply by rising to the same level as the other Nordic Countries. Finns aged 55 take part in work less frequently than those in other countries. This especially applies to men.
At the present rate, the supply of labour threatens to decline by 190,000 people by 2050, but if Finland reaches the level of Finland, Denmark, and Norway in retirement age, the gap would be just 20,000.
Incentives to retire are too attractive, according to those drawing up the report. The incentives are seen to encourage people to leave work too soon.
Vihriälä says that early retirement is a special problem that needs rectification.
At least the “unemployment tube” needs to be removed, and restrictions need to be placed on the conditions for part time retirement. The unemployment tube means that the jobless who are nearing retirement age are entitled to extended unemployment benefits before being entitled to a pension. The system applies to workers above the age of 57.
The minimum age for part-time retirement is 58, and for early old-age pension it is 62. Regular old-age pension can start at the age of 63.
After the early retirement options are blocked, the Economic Council says that the next step is a re-examination of the retirement ages themselves. Under the proposal, age limits need to be linked with the rising life expectancy in Finland. If working careers could be extended as the life span grows longer, the amount of available labour might even grow.
The need for raising the retirement age is calculated at 4.5 years by 2050.
There is no need to intervene in the level of pensions. The report expresses confidence that Finland will make it through the pension promises that it has made. Pensions are protected by legislation and the investment of pension funds. However, the availability of money for elderly care, health care, and other public services is less certain.
Helsingin Sanomat
November 6, 2008
FINLAND: Obese middle-aged men face serious health risks
.
HELSINKI, Finland /
Helsinki Times / November 6, 2008:
Obesity is known to pose major risks of heart disease, strokes, diabetes and various forms of cancer. In spite of this, only about a third of all men in Finland are of normal weight.
The connection between weight and the elevated risks of poor health is well known. Yet everywhere in the world, men in particular seem to be oblivious to this. The connection between expanding girths and heart diseases, as an example, is well documented. But ask the average man, and you will get differing answers.
"I feel fine, but yes, I am fat," says 41-year-old Ilpo from Espoo, who prefers to not give his surname. His reason for this is because he is embarrassed about being overweight.
Source: Helsinki Times
HELSINKI, Finland /
Helsinki Times / November 6, 2008:
Obesity is known to pose major risks of heart disease, strokes, diabetes and various forms of cancer. In spite of this, only about a third of all men in Finland are of normal weight.
The connection between weight and the elevated risks of poor health is well known. Yet everywhere in the world, men in particular seem to be oblivious to this. The connection between expanding girths and heart diseases, as an example, is well documented. But ask the average man, and you will get differing answers.
"I feel fine, but yes, I am fat," says 41-year-old Ilpo from Espoo, who prefers to not give his surname. His reason for this is because he is embarrassed about being overweight.
Source: Helsinki Times
September 17, 2008
FINLAND: Finnish family care-providers exhausted by hard work
.
Reino Hukka takes care of his spouse Helena Hukka,
who suffers from dementia, two weeks at a time. The
other two weeks in the month she is in respite care in
a nursing home.
Photo: Heidi Piiroinen / HS
UUSIMAA, Suomi (Helsingin Sanomat), September 17, 2008:
Arduous and all-consuming work is exhausting family care-providers to such an extent that there is a multiple risk of their passing away prematurely.
”Sometimes the carer is in poorer health than the patient”, notes executive manager Marja-Liisa Kunnas from the Association for Old Age and Neighbour Service.
Many individuals take care of their elderly relatives at the cost of their own health.
”When you have said 'I do', it means until the end of your life. Particularly the elderly care-providers work with their heart”, Kunnas concludes.
”There are many elderly people in carer roles who die before their patients”, confirms executive manager Pertti Riihelä from the Alzheimer Association of Helsinki.
According to a survey conducted by an association for family care-providers, elderly caregivers felt that they were less able to manage compared with their contemporaries. In fact their vigour appeared to be just 40 per cent compared with that of other people in the same age-bracket who are not caregivers.
Helsinki resident Reino Hukka, who had been taking care of his wife with Alzheimer’s disease at home for seven years, says that a year ago ”he was on the verge of passing away first”.
Hukka’s wife has long been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and he had to be constantly on alert. A couple of times a night he had to wake up in order to check where the patient had vanished to.
In the daytime, she could disappear while her husband was making a short visit to the library in order to return a book. She could be found in another district many hours later.
”Compared with child care, taking care of an Alzheimer’s patient is much more arduous”, says Hukka.
Hukka’s anxiety about his spouse had started years earlier when his wife had failed to turn up to take care of her grandchild while her son had had to travel on business. She had got lost in a familiar district, arriving late.
The most difficult were the past four years. The wife no longer understood when she should have gone to the toilet and had to wear a diaper. Moreover, two years ago, the formerly nice person became aggressive, which is one characteristic of Alzheimer’s.
The aggressiveness eventually led to a solution. Hukka’s wife was taken to a hospital emergency room, where a doctor could see how exhausted the husband was. The doctor ordered him to have complete rest for at least two weeks, while his wife was admitted to the hospital.
At present, the situation is good. Hukka’s wife spends two weeks in a nursing home in respite care and two weeks at home. Moreover, once her medication was amended she was no longer aggressive.
”My own situation is in order, but the holiday entitlement for family care-providers should be calculated on a weekly basis”, Hukka points out.
He sent a letter to that effect to parliamentary groups in early summer.
The holidays for care-providers are based on full months, not on for example three weeks, even though they do hard three-shift work and the solution is much cheaper for the municipality than is the alternative institutional care.
Apart from holiday rights, such carers are also entitled to a pension.
The estimated number of Finnish family care-providers is approximately 28,000. These individuals have made a contract with a municipality on caring for an immediate family member or other close relative.
However, the actual number is estimated to be tenfold, as many such caregivers do not know that they would meet the criteria of a family care-provider.
The majority of such carers are of pensionable age and look after their elderly spouse. They are concerned about their own physical strength and good health.
Family care-providers are also entitled to apply for a fee which amounts to a minimum sum of EUR 300 a month. The exact size of the remuneration is determined by each municipality.
Such caregivers are a cheap solution for municipalities, as one month’s fee would cover only a few days in institutional care.
Source: Helsingin Sanomat
Reino Hukka takes care of his spouse Helena Hukka,
who suffers from dementia, two weeks at a time. The
other two weeks in the month she is in respite care in
a nursing home.
Photo: Heidi Piiroinen / HS
UUSIMAA, Suomi (Helsingin Sanomat), September 17, 2008:
Arduous and all-consuming work is exhausting family care-providers to such an extent that there is a multiple risk of their passing away prematurely.
”Sometimes the carer is in poorer health than the patient”, notes executive manager Marja-Liisa Kunnas from the Association for Old Age and Neighbour Service.
Many individuals take care of their elderly relatives at the cost of their own health.
”When you have said 'I do', it means until the end of your life. Particularly the elderly care-providers work with their heart”, Kunnas concludes.
”There are many elderly people in carer roles who die before their patients”, confirms executive manager Pertti Riihelä from the Alzheimer Association of Helsinki.
According to a survey conducted by an association for family care-providers, elderly caregivers felt that they were less able to manage compared with their contemporaries. In fact their vigour appeared to be just 40 per cent compared with that of other people in the same age-bracket who are not caregivers.
Helsinki resident Reino Hukka, who had been taking care of his wife with Alzheimer’s disease at home for seven years, says that a year ago ”he was on the verge of passing away first”.
Hukka’s wife has long been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and he had to be constantly on alert. A couple of times a night he had to wake up in order to check where the patient had vanished to.
In the daytime, she could disappear while her husband was making a short visit to the library in order to return a book. She could be found in another district many hours later.
”Compared with child care, taking care of an Alzheimer’s patient is much more arduous”, says Hukka.
Hukka’s anxiety about his spouse had started years earlier when his wife had failed to turn up to take care of her grandchild while her son had had to travel on business. She had got lost in a familiar district, arriving late.
The most difficult were the past four years. The wife no longer understood when she should have gone to the toilet and had to wear a diaper. Moreover, two years ago, the formerly nice person became aggressive, which is one characteristic of Alzheimer’s.
The aggressiveness eventually led to a solution. Hukka’s wife was taken to a hospital emergency room, where a doctor could see how exhausted the husband was. The doctor ordered him to have complete rest for at least two weeks, while his wife was admitted to the hospital.
At present, the situation is good. Hukka’s wife spends two weeks in a nursing home in respite care and two weeks at home. Moreover, once her medication was amended she was no longer aggressive.
”My own situation is in order, but the holiday entitlement for family care-providers should be calculated on a weekly basis”, Hukka points out.
He sent a letter to that effect to parliamentary groups in early summer.
The holidays for care-providers are based on full months, not on for example three weeks, even though they do hard three-shift work and the solution is much cheaper for the municipality than is the alternative institutional care.
Apart from holiday rights, such carers are also entitled to a pension.
The estimated number of Finnish family care-providers is approximately 28,000. These individuals have made a contract with a municipality on caring for an immediate family member or other close relative.
However, the actual number is estimated to be tenfold, as many such caregivers do not know that they would meet the criteria of a family care-provider.
The majority of such carers are of pensionable age and look after their elderly spouse. They are concerned about their own physical strength and good health.
Family care-providers are also entitled to apply for a fee which amounts to a minimum sum of EUR 300 a month. The exact size of the remuneration is determined by each municipality.
Such caregivers are a cheap solution for municipalities, as one month’s fee would cover only a few days in institutional care.
Source: Helsingin Sanomat
September 9, 2008
FINLAND: 10,000 Finns will reach retirement age in September
.
Record monthly age-cohort born in September 1945 now reach 63 years of age
HELSINKI, Finland (Helsingin Sanomat), September 9, 2008:
Payroll clerk Ritva Jokinen from Helsinki intends to retire when she turns 63 later this month. She plans to move to the Costa del Sol right away. Photo: Mika Ranta / HS
A record number of 9,700 Finns will reach the age of 63 this month. The age is the lower limit for the Finnish state retirement pension. The age group born in September 1945 will also manifest itself as a peak in the number of retired persons, even though the most common retirement age in Finland is 60 years.
Helsinki resident Ritva Jokinen is all smiles. She will turn 63 on the 23rd of this month, and intends to retire on the following week.
”My father was discharged from the military for Christmas in 1944. Fast timing”, she notes.
Jokinen and her coevals belong to the largest age group of people born in the same month in the country’s entire population history.
Development Manager Ismo Risku from the Finnish Centre for Pensions estimates that the September 1945 age-cohort could be seen as a small peak on the retirement curve.
”We are now on the threshold after which the growth in the number of retired persons in proportion to the working-age population will start to accelerate. The share of retired persons in the population will continue to grow, while fewer and fewer people belong to the younger generation”, Ismo Risku reported.
The largest group in the so-called baby boomer generation involves those born in 1948. These 84,000 Finns are celebrating their 60th birthday this year.
Until now people in Finland have retired at the age of 60 years on average.
”However, it is still pure guesswork to estimate when the number of retired people is actually expected to peak”, says Development Manager Jari Kannisto from the Finnish Centre for Pensions.
The major reform in the Finnish private-sector earnings-related pension system that came into effect in 2005 did not encourage Ritva Jokinen to continue to work.
”My earnings-related pension would have risen by EUR 400 if I had continued to work until I am 68. Nevertheless, I found free time more tempting than money”, Jokinen notes.
According to a recent forecast issued by the Finnish Centre for Pensions, Finnish pension expenditure will rise to EUR 20 billion this year.
In 2007, the expenditure on public pensions totalled EUR 19.6 billion, according to preliminary information issued by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland.
Researcher David Sinclair from the National Public Health Institute has examined the Finnish demographic structure with some alarm.
”Finland will be the first country facing a population crisis. The most common age-group in Sweden and Britain is the 40-year-olds, compared with Finland’s 60-year-olds”, Sinclair reported.
Sinclair says that he is really disappointed to see how little Finns have been preparing themselves for the onset of old age.
”In the United States aged people leave for Florida, where they and their money can be taken good care of. In Finland many retired women live alone, and The Bold and Beautiful [a popular U.S. daytime soap] really does not entertain them for more than a few minutes”, Sinclair charges.
Many Finns born in the record September of 1945 have already entered the unemployment pathway to retirement, while some others have continued to work on a part-time pension.
In any case, it will soon be more likely to run into a Finnish old-age pensioner than an underage Finn. According to a calculation made by Statistics Finland, the share of 63-year-old-and-above Finns will outnumber that of the under-18s in just two years.
In 2010, the proportion of Finnish minors will decline to 1,080,000, while the number of over-63-year-olds will exceed 1,101,000.
Helsingin Sanomat
Payroll clerk Ritva Jokinen from Helsinki intends to retire when she turns 63 later this month. She plans to move to the Costa del Sol right away. Photo: Mika Ranta / HS
A record number of 9,700 Finns will reach the age of 63 this month. The age is the lower limit for the Finnish state retirement pension. The age group born in September 1945 will also manifest itself as a peak in the number of retired persons, even though the most common retirement age in Finland is 60 years.
Helsinki resident Ritva Jokinen is all smiles. She will turn 63 on the 23rd of this month, and intends to retire on the following week.
”My father was discharged from the military for Christmas in 1944. Fast timing”, she notes.
Jokinen and her coevals belong to the largest age group of people born in the same month in the country’s entire population history.
Development Manager Ismo Risku from the Finnish Centre for Pensions estimates that the September 1945 age-cohort could be seen as a small peak on the retirement curve.
”We are now on the threshold after which the growth in the number of retired persons in proportion to the working-age population will start to accelerate. The share of retired persons in the population will continue to grow, while fewer and fewer people belong to the younger generation”, Ismo Risku reported.
The largest group in the so-called baby boomer generation involves those born in 1948. These 84,000 Finns are celebrating their 60th birthday this year.
Until now people in Finland have retired at the age of 60 years on average.
”However, it is still pure guesswork to estimate when the number of retired people is actually expected to peak”, says Development Manager Jari Kannisto from the Finnish Centre for Pensions.
The major reform in the Finnish private-sector earnings-related pension system that came into effect in 2005 did not encourage Ritva Jokinen to continue to work.
”My earnings-related pension would have risen by EUR 400 if I had continued to work until I am 68. Nevertheless, I found free time more tempting than money”, Jokinen notes.
According to a recent forecast issued by the Finnish Centre for Pensions, Finnish pension expenditure will rise to EUR 20 billion this year.
In 2007, the expenditure on public pensions totalled EUR 19.6 billion, according to preliminary information issued by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland.
Researcher David Sinclair from the National Public Health Institute has examined the Finnish demographic structure with some alarm.
”Finland will be the first country facing a population crisis. The most common age-group in Sweden and Britain is the 40-year-olds, compared with Finland’s 60-year-olds”, Sinclair reported.
Sinclair says that he is really disappointed to see how little Finns have been preparing themselves for the onset of old age.
”In the United States aged people leave for Florida, where they and their money can be taken good care of. In Finland many retired women live alone, and The Bold and Beautiful [a popular U.S. daytime soap] really does not entertain them for more than a few minutes”, Sinclair charges.
Many Finns born in the record September of 1945 have already entered the unemployment pathway to retirement, while some others have continued to work on a part-time pension.
In any case, it will soon be more likely to run into a Finnish old-age pensioner than an underage Finn. According to a calculation made by Statistics Finland, the share of 63-year-old-and-above Finns will outnumber that of the under-18s in just two years.
In 2010, the proportion of Finnish minors will decline to 1,080,000, while the number of over-63-year-olds will exceed 1,101,000.
Helsingin Sanomat
July 4, 2008
FINLAND: How to Win Your Wife's Weight in Beer
BERLIN, Germany (Spiegel International), July 4, 2008:
The 'Estonian Carry'
Every year, the small Finnish town of Sonkajärvi hosts the Wife Carrying World Championships. All men have to do is sprint around an obstacle course while carrying their wives. And the women? They have to hold on tight -- which isn't as easy as it sounds.
It sounds like it could be some primitive Scandinavian skill, dating to when skin-wearing Nordic tribes had to haul their women from burning huts before an onslaught of marauding Vikings .. or maybe Huns from the eastern steppes.
It's not an age-old tradition: Locals started the contest as a joke in 1992. But the joke has grown into an international competition, with 50 couples from 14 different countries competing in the 2008 race this weekend. Winners take home the woman's weight in beer. Photos credit: Sonkajärven kunta
As it happens, though, the Wife Carrying World Championships, held every summer in the small Finnish town of Sonkajärvi, isn't even close to that old. The event, which sets husbands from around the world racing down an obstacle course for the grand prize of the woman's weight in beer, hasn't even been around for two decades.
It started as a lark by Sonkajärvi locals in 1992. Four years later it became an "international contest," and this year 50 couples will compete from 14 countries around the world, including Germany, Sweden, the United States, Australia, China, Kenya and Israel.
So where did the idea actually come from? "It's based on a legend," a spokeswoman for the contest, Anni Keränen, assured SPIEGEL ONLINE. "There was this man called Herkko Rosvo-Ronkainen," who lived near Sonkajärvi in the 19th century, "and there was a legend that he stole women from nearby villages and carried them over the rocky ground."
'It Can Be a Stolen Wife'
The main competition this weekend in Sonkajärvi will feature a quarter-kilometer (.15-mile) course across sand, asphalt and grass, over two "dry obstacles," like logs, and through about three feet of water. "The wife to be carried," according to official rules, "may be your own, the neighbor's or you may have found her (elsewhere) ... She must, however, be over 17 years of age."
"It can be a stolen wife," Keränen explained. "It can be your daughter." But it can't be another contestant's wife, stolen from on the track? "No. That's illegal," she said.
The rules say a wife can be carried in any fashion -- piggyback, fireman-style (draped over both shoulders), cheerleader-style (sitting on the shoulders), or in a posture of the couple's invention. But the "Estonian" style of wife-carrying has the woman lying face-down across the man's shoulders, feet forward, and grabbing her own pantlegs from under his armpits.
Thomas Spiegl and Anke Kindl, a Munich couple who this year will realize a nine-year ambition to compete in the contest, find it a fair division of labor. "The woman has to be able to hold on for one minute, upside-down," Kindl told the ddp news agency, "and absorb jolts that way."
Spiegl added: "The advantage is that the man doesn't have to use up his energy by holding on to the woman."
Margo Uusorg and Birgit Ulricht, from the Estonian capital of Tallinn, have used this method to achieve the Wife Carrying world record on the Sonkajärvi course -- 55.5 seconds. Margo and his brother Madis, paired with Inga Klauso, have dominated the event so far in the 21st century, having won seven of the eight contests since 2000. Margo has carried three different women to victory.
His career, though, may be at an end. He hinted in 2006 that he was done, only to race in 2007 and finish a disappointing 29th. His brother Madis was ecstatic at finally having beat Margo. "I'm feeling really great because we won," Madis told Reuters after the 2007 race. "It was my fifth time here, second time to win this competition. And it was the first time to beat my brother!"
The winners this year may also snag personal electronics, along with their thousands of liquid ounces of beer. "It might be a computer, a TV, or a camera," Keränen told SPIEGEL ONLINE. "We're not sure. It changes from year to year. Normally we also gave backyard saunas. But the people had to carry them home."
© SPIEGEL ONLINE 2008
June 10, 2008
FINLAND: Identifying Alzheimer's at an early stage
BRUSSELS, Belgium (Cordis News), June 10, 2008:There are many different forms of dementia, but Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent and covers 50% to 70% of all dementia cases. At the moment there is no cure and no definite known cause. A new EU-funded project, PredictAD, is now underway; its mission is to develop diagnostic tools to predict Alzheimer's as early as possible.
Alzheimer's disease affects more than 5 million people in Europe and more than 24 million worldwide. There are also predictions that the disease will double every 20 years. Alzheimer's generally affects people over 65 years of age and has a distressing panoply of symptoms, beginning with memory loss and often leading, usually over a period of months or years to outbursts of anger, hostility, mood swings, withdrawal from family and friends, and finally to loss of bodily functions and death.
There is currently no treatment that can cure Alzheimer's. However, new drug treatments are coming on to the market all the time, and an early diagnosis could mean hope for sufferers to be cured at an early stage before symptoms become too pronounced.
The focus of current research is on the development of tools for early diagnosis. At the moment there is no single test that can predict if a person has early symptoms of Alzheimer's or is likely to develop the disease in full in the future. A definite diagnosis can only be made during a post-mortem.
PredictAD, a project with nearly € 3 million of funding and partners in six countries, will attempt to develop indicators that will diagnose Alzheimer's early by studying imaging biomarkers (MRI, PET FDG and PET PIB), measuring electrical brain activity and blood based markers (proteomics and metabolomics) and developing ways of combining data from different biomarkers. A combination of these different types of new information may not only mean a diagnosis of Alzheimer's can be reached earlier, but may help to differentiate between different forms of dementia.
'According to the latest estimates, the global prevalence of Alzheimer's disease is predicted to quadruple to 106 million people by 2050,' says Dr Lennart Thurfjell, head of diagnostic software, medical diagnostics, at GE Healthcare, one of the project partners. 'Thus, there is a critical need for effective diagnostic tools to help in the early diagnosis of this debilitating disease.'
The project is running from June 2008 to May 2011. At a later stage a selected biomarker set will be used to develop a software programme that can be used by doctors to assess the risk of Alzheimer's and to monitor its progress in patients using patient data.
'The aim of PredictAD is to develop an objective indicator to diagnose Alzheimer's disease at the earliest stage possible,' says Dr Jyrki Lötjönen, the scientific coordinator of PredictAD. 'This may be possible by combining data from various data sources of patient monitoring, such as neuropsychological tests, medical imaging, electrical brain activity measurements, and analysing protein and metabolomics levels of blood samples. Early diagnosis may play an important role in effective medical treatment of Alzheimer's disease, especially in the future as the next generation of therapies becomes available for all patients.'
Source: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
More information: http://www.vtt.fi
February 21, 2008
FINLAND: New "Granny Cottages" Being Sold To Meet Pensioners' Dreams Of A Return To Country Life
There are a lot of grannies out there, and more and more on the way, notes entrepreneurBy Minna Nalbantoglu in Luopioinen
HELSINKI, Finland (Helsingin Sanomat), February 20, 2008:
A small cottage, painted in the familiar red-earth colours and with smart white window frames, stands on the edge of a forest.
The yard is currently hidden under drifts of snow, but in the summer it is a handsome sight, the owner declares.
Olavi Mäkinen and his wife Eila have been living here in Luopioinen, south-east from Tampere, in this newly-built "granny cottage" for the past eighteen months.
The one-storey house, with a floor area of around 60 square metres, has a large parlour-cum-kitchen and a bedroom downstairs, plus the usual bathroom and WC, and there is another area suitable for sleeping in the attic space.
The little home is the result of Luopioinen's "New Age Granny Cottage" project, which was launched by local resident Ari Toivari in collaboration with his architect brother Pertti Toivari.
The basic idea is to sell new cottages like this one on a retro nostalgia platform and to meet the dreams of new pensioners of a move back to the country and a quieter way of life.
In Karjalohja, west of Lohja and the capital (see map), a development of 29 such houses is scheduled to go up. Luopioinen has included in its master plan a possibility to build a total of fifteen little homes on the same area as the Mäkinen house.
In addition, the manufacturer of ready-built homes Kastelli sells dozens of its free- time villas under the "granny cottage" label each year, in different sizes up to 106 m²: they have become the company's most popular second-home model.
Nostalgia clearly plays a part. "The next generation are still enchanted by the peace and quiet of the countryside and by the model of the old cottage they remember from their childhood and visiting the grandparents, but the old place itself has seen better days, and what they want now is something new and with all mod cons thrown in", explains Matti Heikinheimo from Kastelli's holiday homes unit.
Olavi and Eila Mäkinen's "granny cottage" is a slightly tweaked version of the old model. The living room-cum-kitchen has a high ceiling. "My wife is a grandmother and I'm a grandfather, so I suppose in that sense this makes it a granny cottage", acknowledges Olavi Mäkinen, posing in his rocker.Photo: Reijo Hietanen
The Kastelli designs are intended for year-round leisure use and not simply as summer cottages, and the houses in Karjalohja and Luopioinen are not strictly speaking cottages at all, but permanent residences.
There are of course also demographic issues at work in all this. Some are putting their money on the idea that a share of the baby-boomer generation now approaching retirement age in large numbers will wish to leave the cities for the rural idyll when they give up work.
According to a questionnaire carried out by Vaasa University in 2002, this is exactly what 16% of those living in the largest cities and born between 1940 and 1950 do intend to do.
The great majority of them would not be travelling far, but would relocate to the countryside close to one of the present growth centres.
"There are a lot of grannies about, and there are more and more coming all the time", says Seppo Syvähuoko, who is heading the Karjalohja cottage village project. "We already have fifteen takers lined up."
The order for the houses has been signed and the first residents are scheduled to move in this autumn.
The cottages in Luopioinen are not actually intended specifically for pensioners alone. The idea of the Toivari brothers was to create inexpensive compact homes on small plots of land. They also suit well to energy-saving efforts brought by fears of climate change.
"It seemed crazy to us that while families are getting progressively smaller, houses are just growing and growing", says Ari Toivari.
As it turns out, the original size of the "granny cottages" that these were based on proved to be too small for modern users.
The houses that have gone up have sometimes been criticised as rather too big to bear the old name, despite its obvious retro selling-point.
The brothers Toivari also noticed that price did not seem to be any great obstacle. The houses that have been completed in Luopioinen cost around EUR 150,000, while those in Karjalohja will go for between 20,000 and 40,000 euros more. The houses in Karjalohja are slightly larger, at 70-90 m².
Olavi and Eila Mäkinen moved into their new home from a much larger house - around 200 square metres - not far away. Both have worked in the cities during their active careers, but they returned to the country when they retired.
They wanted a smaller home because looking after a big place and a garden of similar scale proved too much like hard work.
They can find nothing negative to say about their new home in Luopioinen.
"No need to move anywhere from here unless it's six feet under", says Olavi Mäkinen, 72.
"And the graveyard isn't a long hike away, either", he adds with a grin.
Source: Helsingin Sanomat
February 20, 2008
FINLAND: Where Music and Feeling Are One
LONDON, England (Reuters), February 19, 2008:
A little Beethoven is good for the brain, according to a Finnish study published on Wednesday showing that music helps people recover more quickly from strokes.
And patients who listened to a few hours of music each day soon after a stroke also improved their verbal memory and were in a better mood compared to patients who did not listen to music or used audio books, the researchers said.
Music therapy has long been used in a range of treatments but the study published in the journal Brain is the first to show the effect in people, they added.
"These findings demonstrate for the first time that music listening during the early post-stroke stage can enhance cognitive recovery and prevent negative mood," the researchers wrote.
Strokes, which occur when blood flow to the brain is blocked, can kill brain tissue and are one of the worldwide leading causes of death and permanent disability. Treatments include blood thinning drugs and attempts to lower cholesterol.
The study involved 60 people who recently had a stroke of the middle cerebral artery in the left or right side of the brain. This is the most common stroke and can affect motor control, speech and a range of other cognitive functions.
One group listened to their favourite music every day or used audio books while another did not listen to any music. All volunteers received standard rehabilitation treatment.
Three months after stroke music listeners showed a 60 per cent better improvement in verbal memory compared to an 18 per cent benefit for those using audio books and 29 per cent for people who did not listen to either.
The ability to focus attention also improved by 17 per cent in music listeners, said Teppo Sarkamo, a psychologist at the Cognitive Brain Research Unit at the University of Helsinki, who led the study.
"We can't say what is happening in the brain but based on previous research and theory it may be music listening could actually activate the brain areas that are recovering," he said in a telephone interview.
Music might also in some way activate more general mechanisms that repair and renew the brain's neural networks after stroke, Dr. Sarkamo said.
Larger studies are needed to better understand exactly what is going on but these findings show that music may offer a cheap, easy additional treatment for stroke patients, he said.
"This could be considered a pilot study," Dr. Sarkamo said. "It is a promising start.
Michael Kahn
© Copyright 2008 CTVglobemedia Publishing Inc.
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