GeroNursingCentre (GNC) - Older adults' restorative care, wellbeing and functional ability

GNC has developed a model of nursing practice that promotes restorative care, which is being developed, tested, and applied in various contexts. Additionally, we are developing a competency measure for nursing practice that promotes rehabilitation for the elderly. We are developing and testing the theory nationally and internationally.

We are examining the competencies in restorative care and its management among various actors in the service system. We are interested in the effectiveness and significance of continuing education from different perspectives.

Research articles

• Suonnansalo P, Pramila-Savukoski S, Meriläinen M, Siira H, Sneck S, Tohmola A, Karsikas E & Tuomikoski A-M. (2025). Clinical gerontological nursing competence among licensed practical nurses in healthcare services – a descriptive cross-sectional study. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 39(1): e13312. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.13312

We study the relevance and effectiveness of different operating models and working methods that promote rehabilitation in the service system in different operating environments and in terms of the health, functional capacity, well-being and quality of life of older adults.

Research articles

• Heikkilä T, Saarela K-M, Kaakinen P & Lotvonen S. (2023) Liikuntaintervention ja liikuntaan sitoutumisen vaikutukset ikääntyneen fyysiseen toimintakykyyn palvelutalossa – pilottitutkimus. Hoitotiede 35 (2); 103 – 115.
• Piirainen P, Pesonen H-M, Siira H, Elo S. (2022). The impact of a training intervention on nursing care for people with dementia in long-term care: A quasi-experimental study. Nordic Journal of Nursing Research, First Published July 14, https://doi.org/10.1177/20571585221106066
• Lotvonen, S., Kyngäs, H., Koistinen, P., Bloigu, R., & Elo, S. (2018). Mental Well-Being of Older People in Finland during the First Year in Senior Housing and Its Association with Physical Performance. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(7), 1331. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15071331
• Lotvonen, S., Kyngäs, H., Koistinen, P., Bloigu, R., & Elo, S. (2017). Social Environment of Older People during the First Year in Senior Housing and Its Association with Physical Performance. International journal of environmental research and public health, 14(9), 960. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14090960

We are studying various digital methods to support restorative care. We cooperate with various device and application developers.

Research articles

• Kukkohovi, S., Siira, H., Elo, S. (2024). Yetitabletilla® pelaamisen vaikutukset ikääntyneiden laaja-alaiseen toimintakykyyn ja fyysiseen sekä sosiaaliseen aktiivisuuteen palvelukotiympäristössä: Kvasikokeellisen interventiotutkimuksen protokolla. Hoitotiede 36(suppl): 17-33.

• Kukkohovi, S., Siira, H., Elo, S. (2024). Developing a Digital Gaming Intervention with Yetitablet® to Improve Older People’s Functioning and Activity in Long-Term-Care – a Feasibility Study. In: Särestöniemi, M., et al. Digital Health and Wireless Solutions. NCDHWS 2024. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 2083. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-59080-1_15

• Kukkohovi, S., Siira, H., Arolaakso, S., Miettunen, J., & Elo, S. (2023). The effectiveness of digital gaming on the functioning and activity of older people living in long-term care facilities: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Aging clinical and experimental research, 35(8), 1595-1608. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-023-02459-y
• Tikkanen, S., Siira, H., & Lotvonen, S. (2023). Nucu™- hyvinvointialusta omaishoitajien ja ikääntyneiden omaishoidettavien elämänlaadun tukena. Gerontologia (Verkkoaineisto). https://doi.org/10.23989/gerontologia.116356
• Hyväri, S., Elo, S., Kukkohovi, S., & Lotvonen, S. (2024). Utilizing activity sensors to identify the behavioural activity patterns of elderly home care clients. Disability and rehabilitation: Assistive technology, 19(3), 585. https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2022.2110951

We study restorative care of older special groups, such as the sensory impaired, people with memory disorders, people with intellectual disabilities, informal carers and immigrants.

Research articles

• Pesonen T, Corneliusson L, Väisänen V, Siira H, Edgren J, Elo S & Sinervo T. (2024) The relationship between sensory impairment and home care client’s received care time – a cross-sectional study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 80:1166–1176. DOI: 10.1111/jan.15863
• Siira, H. J., Kyngäs, H. A., & Falck, A. A. K. (2023). Characteristics of individual low-vision rehabilitation counseling among older adults: A qualitative 2-year follow-up study. The British journal of visual impairment, 41(3), 610-619. https://doi.org/10.1177/02646196221085852
• Siira H, Kääriäinen M & Jämsä U. (2023) Experiences of implementation of the group-based adaptation training intervention for patients with chronic somatic illnesses or disabilities among multi-professional teams in specialized healthcare. Annals of Medicine, 55(2): 2253725.
• Pesonen T, Saarela K-M, Falck A, Kyngäs H, Siira H. (2022). Home-dwelling older adults´ vision and need for vision care services in home care. Nursing Open. http://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1510
• Siira, H. J., Falck, A. A., & Kyngäs, H. A. (2019). Health-related quality of life and related factors among older adults with visual impairments. The British journal of visual impairment, 37(3), 183-193. https://doi.org/10.1177/0264619619839737