We are here to support your mental wellbeing through our support groups Kööri, Peesi, Vire, Toivo and Pilke and rehabilitation programs Tsemppi and Puhti. Our social instructors at the service centers can provide guidance and support.
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Support from a peer support group
The peer support groups Kööri, Peesi, Vire and Toivo, which support the mental well-being of the elderly, will start in February and September. Meeting locations vary and the groups meet in different service centres.
Peer support groups support in challenging life situations. The main emphasis in all the groups is on peer support and open, confidential discussion. All group members and instructors have the obligation to observe secrecy regarding the matters discussed in the group.
Instructors meet in person with all group members once before the start of the group. There will also be a follow-up meeting in each group a couple of months after the group has ended.
Please note that the groups are held in Finnish and that you cannot join them mid-season. New groups are announces around two months in advance on this website.
Kööri is a peer support group for pensioners who want to reduce or stop using substances.
The substance you find problematic can be anything, such as alcohol or medicines. The group will exchange ideas about substance abuse illnesses and recovery. Exercises are provided about triggers, thought distortions and the prevention of setbacks, for example, to support the group members.
The group meets 14 times.
Peesi is a peer support group for pensioners whose loved one has a substance abuse problem and who want support in the situation.
Your loved one can be a spouse, child, other relative or friend. The group discusses the participants' own life situation and performs tasks in support of positive communication, setting boundaries and improving their own quality of life, for example.
The group meets 12 times.
Vire is a peer support group for seniors with depression or depressive symptoms and need help.
The group discusses, among other things, feelings, values and needs, activities and mood, positive self-talk, automatic thoughts, physical exercise, nutrition and sleep. How all of these affect at the background of depression.
The group meets 12 times.
Toivo is a peer support group for pensioners whose loved one has passed away.
You can participate in the group whether you have lost anyone you feel was close to you. However, it would be good if at least six months had passed since your loss, so that it would already be easier to share your grief with others. Toivo does not focus on grief, although there is a place for it, but instead it reflects on themes like life, death, ourselves and the meaning of life.
Pilke groups are peer support groups for pensioners who use or have used intoxicants.
The purpose of the group is not to change lifestyle but participants are welcome to the group as they are. Pilke groups are also suitable for you if you have both a substance abuse problem and a memory disorder.
The Pilke group gives you support and help for everyday life, content for your day, friends and nice things to do. The group starts with a shared breakfast and asking the participants how they are doing. Activities are planned together with the group. The programme can include free conversation, a quiz, a music review panel, crafts or an excursion.
The Pilke group meets once a week for 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on the group.
Group activities include a free breakfast, discussions and other jointly planned activities.
Pilke groups are found in almost every service centre.
Support through rehabilitation
In the rehabilitation of senior services, we consider your life situation comprehensively. We take into account your mood, financial situation, relationships, health and your eating and physical exercise habits.
We offer pensioners two different forms of rehabilitation that support mental well-being.
Tsemppi is home-based social rehabilitation for the elderly (60+) who need stronger support for their mental health or for stopping or controlling substance use.
Tsemppi may be suitable for you if you experience repeated anxiety, joylessness or loneliness, are afraid of social situations or seek support from drinking.
We are a low-threshold service for which you do not need a referral. You can ask the employee assigned to you to leave a contact request with us or call yourself. A prerequisite for Tsemppi client relationships is your own desire and motivation.
We look at your life situation as a whole. You define your goals and means for a rehabilitation period that will last no more than 6 months. On average, there are meetings once a week.
For more information
More about Tsemppi
Our aim is to support you with a goal you set yourself, which will improve your well-being and mood, as well as help you find meaningful things to do in your everyday life. We will go over what is on your mind and together find ways how we can either work it out or accept it.
We will discuss your life situation, relationships, nutrition and exercise and how they affect your mental health.
You will be supported by a multi-professional team. Together with the employee, you plan the content of the rehabilitation that aims at the goal you have set yourself.
Rehabilitation may include:
- conversations with an employee
- getting acquainted with recreational, outdoor activity or peer support opportunities in the vicinity and practicing different skills
- exercises where you learn, for example, how thoughts, feelings and behaviour all affect each other and what this means for your situation.
Tsemppi’s rehabilitation period is tailored to your needs and can last up to six months.
We will call you three months after the rehabilitation period and ask how you are doing.
If you are interested in Tsemppi, please contact us. We will tell you more and listen to what you want from the rehabilitation. Based on these, we will consider together whether Tsemppi is the right service for you right now.
Puhti is group-based rehabilitation for the elderly (60+) who have challenges with substances or mental health. Puhti is a six-week, 24-hour rehabilitation period, the price of which includes a room for 1–2 people as well as meals. The rehabilitation deductible is €42.40/day.
Tsemppi may be suitable for you if you experience repeated anxiety, joylessness or loneliness, are afraid of social situations or seek support from drinking.
During the rehabilitation period, we will consider your life situation comprehensively, what kind of change you want in your life and how it can be implemented. The weekly programme includes discussion groups, individual meetings, physical exercise and relaxation training.
We are a low-threshold service for which you do not need a referral. You can ask the employee assigned to you to leave a contact request with us or call yourself. A prerequisite for Puhti’s rehabilitation period is your own desire and motivation as well as the need for a 24-hour rehabilitation period.
For more information
Call +358 9 310 39277
Puhti allows you to share your thoughts with people in similar life situations and get routine and meaning for your everyday life again.
Our goal is to support you with a change goal you set yourself, which will improve your well-being and mood, as well as help you find meaningful things to do in your everyday life at home. You will also be supported by the multi-professional Puhti team.
Rehabilitation includes:
- discussion and peer support groups with different themes
- physical exercise
- self-help exercises for relaxation and anxiety management, for example
- everyday management skills (cleaning, cooking, etc.)
- individual conversations with the employee
- exercises where you learn, for example, how thoughts, feelings and behaviour all affect each other and what this means for your situation.
Puhti rehabilitation period lasts around 6 weeks.
The rehabilitation is carried out as a small group at Roihuvuori Senior Centre in Eastern Helsinki. Puhti has places for six clients in rooms for 1—2 people.
If you are interested in Puhti, please contact us. We will tell you more and listen to what you want from the rehabilitation. Based on these, we will consider together whether Puhti is the right service for you right now.
Service Centres
The service centres are open meeting places for the elderly in Helsinki. They offer a platform for daily activities, peer support and meaningful encounters.
At the service centres, you'll find hobbies, exercise opportunities, interesting events and excursions as well as get peer support, guidance and advice.
There are 15 centres located in different parts of Helsinki. You are welcometo participate in the activities of all of the service centres.
Learn more about service centres for seniors
Guidance and support from social instructors
You can discuss any problems or concerns you might have with the social instructors working at our service centres.
Book an appointment directly from the service centre. We will refer you onwards if you need more support than we are able to offer. Read more about service counselling and social guidance at service centres.
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Mental health support services for the elderly have been developed partly as part of the Helsinki's Sustainable Growth project. Our development measures in Helsinki are part of the Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland(Link leads to external service), which is funded mainly through NextGenerationEU(Link leads to external service), the European Union’s economic recovery package.