Get to know our team!
The CAREFIT project involves researchers at different career stages from Tampere University, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, and the University of Eastern Finland, as well as experts from Carers Finland.
Professor of Gerontology
I am a leader of the CAREFIT Tampere team. I have a longstanding background in aging research, especially in the areas of physical activity, dementia and promoting physical and cognitive health.
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tel. +358 50 4395422
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Doctoral researcher, Master of Health Sciences, registered nurse
I work as a doctoral researcher in the CAREFIT research project. In my upcoming dissertation, I will investigate the association between leisure-time physical activity and mental well-being among older family caregivers. In the research project, I am responsible for collaboration with the Carers Finland as well as the recruitment of study participants.
In 2015, I graduated as a registered nurse and worked in specialized medical care among patients with musculoskeletal disorders for several years. In 2024, I graduated as a Master of Health Sciences (Gerontology and Public Health) from the University of Jyväskylä. In my master’s thesis, I investigated the changes in the self-rated stress-coping ability of Finnish older people and the related factors to these changes during the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to family caregiving, physical activity, and mental well-being, my research interests include healthy and successful ageing, health promotion among older adults, and issues related to inclusion and equality.
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tel. +358 50 4760363
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PhD in Nursing Sciences
I am a postdoctoral research fellow at Tampere University, currently working at CAREFIT research project at the Faculty of Social sciences. My primary role is conducting a systematic literature review on the effects of lifestyle intervention on physical health and functioning of elderly caregivers. I am particularly interested in this project because it employs multi-method approach and studies relatively underexplored population of older caregivers. Additionally, this project focuses on promoting physical activity, which aligns well with the lifestyle intervention study I conducted during my PhD.
Currently, I am also partially engaged in an EU-funded CoroPrevention clinical trial as a postdoctoral research fellow at Faculty of medicine and Health Technology, at Tampere University. Previously I worked as researcher at Clinical urology and Epidemiology (CLUE) working group, an international research collaboration group focused on understanding and improving disease management across different areas of medicine at University of Helsinki. I had also worked as salaried doctoral student at Tampere University, primarily focused on research related to my doctoral study.
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Senior researcher, PhD in Health Sciences, Docent
My research interests particularly focus on the physical functioning and physical activity of older adults, as well as the relationship between these crucial factors and the living environment. In the CAREFIT project, I work as a researcher.
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tel.+358 40 1901648
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Senior researcher, Docent in Gerontology
My name is Laura Kananen, I am Docent in Gerontology and senior researcher at Tampere University and the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. I study human aging from a broad perspective, focusing on physiological aspects. For example, I investigate how health information obtained from various sources and measured in different ways reflects the stages of human aging. I am also interested in how the population is aging today: is it similar to what it was a few decades ago.
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow, PhD in Health Sciences
I defended my doctoral thesis in the field of gerontology in 2023. My thesis focused on the social relationships of older persons and their meaning for a good old age at home and in an assisted living facility.
I am interested in what ageing, old age, and various aspects of life in old age mean. I am particularly interested in ageing as a social phenomenon, that is, as something constructed and given meaning in relationships between people and communities.
In the CAREFIT project, I study the experiences of older informal caregivers and their needs for support. In my research, I utilise interviews conducted with informal caregivers.
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tel. +358 50 4377524
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Senior lecturer in gerontological nursing
I am a postdoctoral researcher in the CAREFIT project. I study the opportunities for family caregivers to participate in the lifestyle intervention implemented in the project. In addition, I am a senior lecturer in gerontological nursing at Tampere University of Applied Sciences.
My doctoral dissertation in the field of social gerontology was completed in May 2025. The research describes how people with young onset dementia and their family members adapt and what kind of experiences their have in the initial stages of the illness. I am interested in the research perspective of living well with dementia and how to support people with dementia and their families in changing life situations.
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Research assistant, MSc student, physiotherapist
I work as a research assistant in the CAREFIT project. I’m currently studying master’s degree in Gerontology and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä. Previously I have worked as a physiotherapist. I’m interested in the effects of physiological aging and preventing age-related loss of function through exercise.
Research Manager at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), PhD, Docent, Licentiate in Medicine
I am the principal investigator of the CAREFIT research group at THL. I am a Research Manager and a Docent in Public Health. My research focuses on promoting the health and well-being of older adults from various perspectives. My particular area of interest is the study of the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia. My goal is to generate knowledge and find solutions that enable more people to live longer, good, and independent lives.
I work as the coordinator and principal investigator of the FINGER (Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability) project at THL. I am also involved in several international networks and projects related to dementia prevention, such as the Nordic Brain Network and World Wide FINGERS, as well as the more recent CAREFIT and Family-FINGERS, which focus on the lifestyles and health promotion of caregivers.
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Senior researcher at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), PhD in Health Sciences, Master of Health Sciences, physiotherapist
I work as a senior researcher in the intervention team at THL. I investigate how lifestyle interventions that include physical activity can support the health and functioning of older adults.
Previously, I have studied the development of physical activity, musculoskeletal symptoms, and work and functional capacity, as well as the factors predicting these, particularly from the perspective of aging workers. The goal of my research is to increase understanding of how we can promote the maintenance of work and functional capacity as we age and mitigate the adverse effects of physical work strain or pain. I defended my doctoral thesis in Occupational Health in September 2024. In my dissertation, I studied how educational background, as well as physical work strain and back pain experienced towards the end of a one’s career predict physical functional capacity in old age.
Before I began working in research, I worked as a physiotherapist with both working-age and older adults, focusing on supporting work and functional capacity, and musculoskeletal physiotherapy. I also led a variety of group exercise classes.
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tel. +358 29 5247347
Senior researcher at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), PhD (Public Health), MSc
I work as a senior researcher at THL. In the CAREFIT study, I am particularly focused on assisting with the planning of the pilot study. I have worked for years in the FINGER study and other projects focused on promoting the health of older adults. My research specifically concentrates on changes in nutrition and other lifestyle factors and their effects on the prevention of cognitive decline.
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Adjunct Professor, Preventive nursing science, University of Eastern Finland Department of Nursing Science, Principal investigator of the Family FINGER study
PhD, Docent, specialized nurse
In the Family FINGER and CAREFIT studies, we study the health and well-being of family caregivers and will develop the FINGER model suitable for them.
I have a long-term research background in the health and health promotion of family caregivers. Family caregivers find themselves in various life situations, and each caregiving experience is unique. I am interested in promoting a good quality of life for caregivers both during their caregiving responsibilities and beyond.
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PhD in Health Sciences, MSc in Global Health and Management
As a postdoctoral researcher, I am involved in the academic project “Promoting Healthy Lifestyle for Spousal Family Caregivers: Family FINGER,” which is conducted in collaboration with UEF and THL, and closely with the CAREFIT research project. Additionally, I work as a senior researcher at the University of Turku.
I previously worked as a researcher on the University of Eastern Finland’s “LifEstyle, NutriTion, and Oral health in caregivers (LENTO)” multidisciplinary intervention study, which implemented an intervention focused on nutrition and oral health for older caregivers.
My research primarily focuses on themes related to caregivers, particularly on social and health-related inequalities they may face. Along with caregiving research, my interests are food insecurity, social inequality, social epidemiology and social and health policy.
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Master of Health Science, registered nurse
I am the development manager of Carers Finland. Carers Finland is an advocacy and support association for carers. Our mission is to improve the social status of families in informal care situations by e.g. influencing legislation and the public opinion.
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kaisa.parviainen@omaishoitajat.fi
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