 Welcome everyone. Once again, let's talk about social inclusion and today we look at the social hub model, a local initiative in Tempere, Finland, designed to support older adults, well-being and social inclusion. And to explain more about the hub, I have invited Anirike Randhalle who will help us know more about this tool and as we'll see it's promising capabilities. Anirike, welcome to our episode. Hello and thanks for the invitation to discuss. Anirike, what prompted you and your colleagues to conduct this research on the social hub model and why Finland? Yes, well, developing age-friendly cities and supporting ageing older adults to age in place have become a public policy goal in many countries with ageing populations. And based on their previous studies, we know that older adults' well-being and quality of life are related to the quality and depth of their social relationships and their engagement in neighbourhood social activities. And we also know that social interaction and participation can help to reduce health risks related to social isolation and loneliness. So to say that neighbourhoods are more than just geographic locations, they are places where older adults establish connections to others. So in recent years in the research, there has been a shift from home to community-centric approaches in supporting older adults' well-being and providing preventive care. And the shift recognises that promoting well-being extends beyond individual homes to include broader community and neighbourhood environments. So the transitions from home to community-centric approaches is reflected in public policies with governments, cities and non-profit organisations increasingly implementing new models aimed at enhancing older adults' well-being and fostering community engagement in Finland and also in other countries with ageing populations. So in order to create age-friendly environments and communities, there is a growing need for knowledge on social innovations and local solutions. But these reasons, studies like this ARB study that we make, which look at local models in particular culture and regional context are important as they provide example which researchers, policymakers and tractioners can learn from. Let's follow up on this evolution of research you mentioned from home to community care. What was missing from the research that led you to start this study? Yeah, so when we started this research, our primary goal was to investigate if and how the social model can support older adults' well-being and social inclusion. So at the outset, we identified a cap in the literature concerning local well-being service innovations. So while previous studies have explored various models supporting ageing and community settings such as retirement villages and naturally occurring retirement communities, there was limited research on the role of local well-being services and social innovations in promoting older adults' well-being and social inclusion. So we aim to fill this gap by examining the social lab model, which is a social innovation developed to support community building at the neighbourhood level. So our research focuses on exploring older adults' experiences and perceptions of social hubs and also providing insights into how such local innovations can contribute to older adults' social inclusion. And overall, we hope to generate new knowledge that could inform the development of effective interventions and policies aimed at supporting ageing populations and creating more age-friendly communities. Perfect. Well, let us know the most important findings. So what did you find in your study? Well, to put it together, the participants of our study recorded the social hubs as valuable local research that offers such spaces for social encounters and promotes interaction with one's social and material environments and provides activities that encourage physical activity and also creativity and allow for independence in participation. So the hubs were seen as important community assets contributing to the overall well-being of local neighbourhoods. And secondly, the social hubs serve as gathering points for older adults, fostering social interaction and community building among residents living in different types of housing. So for example, people living in service housing and those who lived alone and talk about feeling themselves lonely enjoyed meeting other people in the hubs premises and also getting to know new people from the same neighbourhood. So by facilitating meaningful social bonds and neighbourhood networks, the social hubs helped to reduce social isolation and loneliness among the participants. Also, a third thing I would like to point out is the active role of older adults in shaping the community and communal activities. So the participants visited actively, the group activities offered in the hubs, but they also started their own independent groups in the hubs premises. So these independent groups highlight the importance of empowering older adults to actively engage in community life and also allowing resources and spaces for citizens to come together and interact with each other. So in conclusion, the findings provide valuable insights into the potential of community-based models such as the social hub model in supporting ageing population and fostering age-friendly neighbourhoods. So the social hub model and the space for social encounters and interactions it creates that you mentioned. Tell me more, you mentioned this before, can you tell us more about how it impacts as well, not only these individuals that you mentioned, but how it impacts government policy, NGOs, local powers? What can you tell us more about that? Yeah, so well by recognising the social hubs as valuable local resources, I think we can inform other policies aimed at promoting age-friendly communities. So policymakers and service providers can use these findings to advocate for the development and support of similar community-based models in also other cities and maybe even other countries. So this could involve allocating funding and resources to establish community spaces in neighbourhoods, particularly in suburban areas where there may be a lack of accessible meeting places for older adults or maybe the distance that the city centre can belong or how to reach. So the findings of our study highlight the importance of inclusive and also accessible community spaces recognising their importance in reducing social isolation and loneliness. So additionally, I think it would be important to develop environments and support systems that enable older adults to live meaningfully within their neighbourhoods. So this may involve investing in infrastructures, improvements, providing accessible transportation options and also facilitating access to community-based services and resources. Perfect. I would like to focus now on the research limitations of your study, which can help lead or guide future research on the topic. Tell me more about that. Yeah, well, I guess there are several avenues for future research, but to name a few. So some potential areas for further investigation could include longitudinal studies where we could better assess the long-term effects of social hubs on their wellbeing and social inclusion of older adults. And then something about the participants of the study. So we had 19 participants and all of them were white and most of the participants were female. So in the future, it would be beneficial to explore the experiences of diverse populations of older adults, including those from different socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities and also cultural backgrounds. So this would help better understand how the social hubs can meet the needs of diverse range of older adults. And also maybe one more limitations that I could mention is that the data collection took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, which could have influenced participants' experiences and perceptions of the social hubs. So while most of the restrictions were lifted at the time that we collected the interviews, the pandemic context may still have impacted the findings in some way. So maybe a follow-up research, now that there is some time from the COVID restrictions would be in place. Some tips for future research. Anihika, if you had to sum up this conversation in one or two sentences, what would it be? Well, if there is one key takeaway from this discussion, I think it's the importance of community-based service models such as social hubs in promoting the wellbeing and social inclusion of older adults. So these kinds of social innovations can serve as valuable local resources that offer shared spaces for social interaction, facilitate meaningful activities and foster a sense of belonging within neighbourhoods. So by recognising the significance of social connections, shared spaces and community engagement, so we can work towards creating a friendly environment and more caring and inclusive neighbourhoods. Perfect. Straight to the point, a great close. Anihika, thank you very much. Thank you. To those who are watching us on YouTube, on the description of this video, you have access to all the links, all the resources, all the materials to follow up on the research and to know more about what Anihika and I have been talking today. You can also find the links to our podcast platforms to subscribe to the episodes and stay in touch with future episodes.