Helsinki's digital services creates tools for seniors to stay in their homes

The remote care tools are also helping tackle problems of loneliness with virtual group programs. Across the US and Europe, the population is rapidly aging. In Finland this “silver tsunami” is particularly true.

Roughly 22% of the country’s population is over the age of 65, a figure only expected to grow over the next decade, according to Statistics Finland. Moreover, in about 50 years over a third of the population will be classified as a senior citizen.

In the nation’s capital, the Digital Service Center Helsinki is creating new tech-enabled tools that help remotely monitor patients at home.

“At least here in Finland, home is really important, it’s kind of a sacred place,” Jere Finne, development manager at Palvelukeskus Helsinki, said at a media event in June. “Our customers want to stay as long as they can, and that is what we are trying to provide to them.”

Older Finnish patients are now starting to use everything from video chats with nurses, to smart medication dispensers and even GPS trackers. So far around 800 clients are using the remote care services.