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The concept of ageing is shaped by individual perceptions, ideas, and expectations of the ageing process. As individuals contemplate their own ageing, they often envision new interests, challenges, opportunities, and shifts in their social roles. These perceptions and expectations can be influenced by a multitude of factors, including personal experiences, cultural backgrounds, socioeconomic conditions, and social circles. As I work on my thesis on the conceptualisation of ageing, I am left to wonder whether there exists any intervention that could potentially reshape these expectations and render them more positive.

My extensive reading, analysis, and discussions with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds have led me to hypothesise that participation in a range of social activities can have a positive impact on one's perceptions and expectations of ageing. This hypothesis is bolstered by social participation being a cornerstone of the widely accepted active ageing policy (e.g., World Health Organization, 2002). For example, the goals of Finland's National Programme on Ageing 2030, which include volunteering and maintaining functional capacity for longer, are intertwined with social participation in various activities (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health of Finland, 2020). Eurostat (2020) acknowledges the positive influence of cultural activities on well-being by providing statistical data on the participation of older people in cultural activities, such as artistic performances and handcrafting. 

For my research, I compiled a database of over 2,366 social projects targeting older people in Russian regions. These projects are diverse and include various social activities. I will elaborate further on my database and social activities in my future publications. Hence, some thoughts fascinate me but require further exploration and discussion. Thus, while participating, people may pursue what they find interesting, fulfil their dreams of trying something new or something they have been engaged in earlier and find new social roles. In particular, I found projects within my database that enable people to dedicate themselves to preserving and transmitting their local culture and cultural identity, participating in various activities to keep local traditions.

I came across a few projects that were developed by Finno-Ugric people, specifically. Among those, one project is focused on preserving Sámi families' traditions. Young people were taught to prepare fabric and material, cut and tailor the traditional costumes, decorate them and manufacture costume elements, footwear, and hats. Another project involved the establishment of a Karelian carpenter artel, which aimed to reconstruct traditional Karelian rooms. After the completion of the task, the participants organised a cultural event where they sang traditional songs, wore national costumes, and taught traditional skills such as cooking Karelian pies. An initiative group of senior citizens received a grant to interview older people in Karelia and collect information about their families' histories and language. I discovered that there are similar efforts being made in other areas to preserve languages. Usually, these initiatives involve cultural events where people dress up in traditional costumes, sing folk songs, and prepare local food.

Engaging in cultural activities can have a positive impact on older people, empowering them in various ways. Cultural preservation requires dedication, time, and continuous improvement of skills and knowledge. It also involves social engagement, such as mentoring younger generations and transmitting cultural values to others. By doing so, people can become active members of their communities, sharing a sense of belonging to their culture and traditions. Additionally, cultural preservation requires activism, as individuals strive to have an impact on their environment and society. Tacit knowledge, stories, and traditions form the cultural base of a locality, while older people become bearers of culture. Passing down cultural heritage to younger generations is a way of safeguarding identity, preserving wisdom inherited from ancestors, and maintaining the secrets of handicrafts and art. This, in turn, has a positive impact on younger generations, fostering a sense of belonging and showcasing older individuals as valuable sources of information.

This understanding motivates me to gather information on cultural activities that engage older people in Finland. In Jyväskylä, I have found some neighbourhoods hosting dance evenings for older people and libraries offering knitting activities. The Craftsmen’s Houses at the Toivola Old Courtyard held different workshops. Such Museums as Jyväskylä Museum Services, Jyväskylä Art Museum, the Craft Museum of Finland and the Museum of Central Finland offer online exhibition tours, which may become an excellent option for leisure time (City of Jyväskylä, 2023). In October, special cultural events are arranged for older individuals during the Day and Week of Older People. To make events more vibrant and diverse, increased media coverage is necessary. This can draw more people and lead to the creation of various programs.

In light of this, I urge all of us to spread the word about events and cultural activities, especially those that involve older adults. Conducting research on the impact of cultural activities and exploring opportunities to integrate socio-cultural events into ageing policies can lead to valuable insights.

References:

Eurostat (2020). Ageing Europe — Looking at the lives of older people in the EU, 

City of Jyväskylä (2023). Museum services for the elderly, 

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health of Finland (2020). National Programme on Ageing 2030: For an age-competent Finland, 

World Health Organization. (2002). Active Ageing: A Policy Framework.