The President of Finland and his wife visited VAKEs nursing home in Vantaa: "The star moment of my life"

We got to spend a unique evening in Wellbeing services county of Vantaa and Kerava before Christmas, when the president of Finland and wife participated in the Christmas party of the residents of the Malminiity nursing home. The celebration was attended by many nursing home residents and their close ones. The celebration was opened by county chief executive Timo Aronkytö and county executive chairperson Maarit Raja-Aho.

^{The President of Finland wished everybody a good Christmas time,}

Malminnitty nursing home is an important unit in VAKE, because many new functions and experiments have been started there. These new functions has been piloted and then spread to other nursing homes in Vantaa and Kervo.  Malminniitty nursing home has for example from the beginning offered jobs to many persons with disabilities.

The nursing home has also been a part of the A Good Work Programme, started by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, where professionals in the culture sector were recruited as cultural instructors to the unit. The culture instructors work is to improve the well-being of the residents and enrich the everyday life with joint culture activities. The cultural sector worker has since then become an integrated part of the nursing homes multi-professional team. 

"This place has been a lottery win for us"

Culture instructor Rebekka Vallinen also lead the communal singing for the residents at this celebration together with musician Mikael Konttinen. "I have been able to create how we bring culture to everyday life of the elderly. Music, visual art and other leisurely activities to do together", Vallinen tells about her work.

^{VAKEs culture instructor Rebekka Vallinen and musician Mikael Konttinen leads the communal singing.}

The close ones of residents has noticed the specialness of the place. Auli Hurskainen who participated in the celebration with her mother Saara Karjalainen tells, that her mother has enjoyed herself very well in Malminniitty. "The residents are treated as individuals here and thanks to the nurses my mother has adapted very well to this place. This place has been a lottery win for us."

Executive director Minna Lahnalampi-Lahtinen highlighted these special features of Malminnitty and thanked in her celebration speech the residents, close ones and the staff. "We have received the national price given by the Ministry of Social affairs and Health national price for the work that we have done here. We have together taken significant steps how everybody can live a good life according to their own wishes in everyday life.

Christmas serving and music was enjoyed at the celebration. Armi Suominen, who has lived 1,5 years at the nursing home was happy for the many participants and the warm atmosphere at the celebration. "Thank you for coming", she thanked the president of Finland moved by his visit.

^{Armi Suominen who lives in Malminniitty thanked warmely the president of Finland for the visit,}

Even for the staff the celebration was special. "We do our work with our heart. This celebration was fantastic, one highlight of my life. It warms my heart, that the president of Finland comes here and talks with us and the residents", rejoices practical nurse Jonna Forselius.

^{Occupational therapist Riikka Lindroos and practical nurse enjoys working at Malminniitty.}

Occupational therapist Riikka Lindroos who works in Malminniitty, feels it is important that employees and elderly are remembered. She consents the specialness with Malminnitty: "It is a nice to work, fantastic residents and a good supervisor."

With these feelings it can be good to start the Christmas celebration in Malminniitty.

Photos: Pertti Salminen