Competence model for enhancing the appeal of elderly care

We create a new practice competence model for nursing students at Turku UAS

Health visitor and a senior woman during home visit. A nurse talking to an elderly woman.

Project duration

1.4.2024. – 31.10.2025

Source of funding

The European Social Fund

Total funding

161 686 €

The care of the elderly faces two main challenges: there are not enough staff in the sector and the demand for staff will grow in the future, while at the same time the sector is not appealing to nursing students. This project aims to increase the retention and attractiveness of care of the elderly.

The project will create a new practice competence model for nursing students at Turku University of Applied Sciences to match the skills requirements of the changing work environment and to enhance the skills level in elderly care. The model will be tested while it is being developed in the welfare area of Southwest Finland, in the Campuskoti Merihelmi, a 24-hour service residential unit for the elderly.

In the self-directed practice, University of Applied Sciences teachers are present at the workplace to facilitate constructive dialogue between students and the staff of the residential unit. This ensures the development of both students and continuous learning of the staff. As a result, the work culture in the sector is changing, one placement at a time. This is an important aspect of vocational education, which plays a key role in addressing the challenge of transforming care work for the elderly and recognizing new training needs.

The project will develop a new way of arranging work placement for nursing students at Turku University of Applied Sciences to meet the skills needs that result from changes in the work environment and to improve competence levels in elderly care. The model will be piloted as it is developed in the welfare area of Southwest Finland, in a 24-hour service residential unit for elderly people at Campuskoti Merihelmi. The objective is to motivate future care workers to pursue careers in the field of elderly care and prepare them to work in a demanding specialty.