Helsinki
Finland
The RECETAS project in Helsinki
In Helsinki, the RECETAS project focused on older adults living in assisted living facilities across the metropolitan area. Many residents experience loneliness due to limited social networks, health challenges, or reduced mobility—factors that increase the risk of social isolation.
A wide range of green and blue spaces in the Helsinki region served as living laboratories for the study, including:
- Local neighbourhood parks and accessible urban green areas
- Botanical and community gardens
- Coastal zones and lakeside environments
- Indoor and digital nature settings, such as virtual nature experiences and nature-inspired art programs
A clinical study was carried out in collaboration with local care institutions and research teams. Older adults experiencing loneliness were recruited from 22 assisted living facilities across the metropolitan area, including individuals with mild to moderate cognitive impairment who were also able to participate.
RECETAS-hanke Helsingissä
Helsingin ympärivuorokautisen hoidon yksiköissä on havaittu, että monet ikääntyneet pääsevät liian harvoin ulos tai luontoon, mikä lisää heikentää hyvinvointia.RECETAS-hanke keskittyi pääkaupunkiseudun tehostetun palveluasumisen yksiköissä asuviin ikääntyneisiin, joilla sosiaalisten verkostojen rajallisuus, terveydelliset haasteet ja heikentynyt liikuntakyky lisäävät yksinäisyyden riskiä.
Hankkeessa hyödynnettiin Helsingin laajaa kirjoa luontoympäristöjä – puistoista ja yhteisöpuutarhoista metsiin ja rantoihinja virtuaalisiin luontokokemuksiin – ”elävänä laboratoriona”. Tutkimus toteutettiin yhteistyössä tehostetun palveluasumisen yksiköiden ja tutkimusryhmien kanssa, ja siihen rekrytoitiin yksinäisyyttä kokevia ikääntyneitä 22 tuetun asumisen yksiköstä, mukaan lukien henkilöt, joilla oli lievää tai kohtalaista kognitiivista heikentymää.
Immerse yourself in the world of RECETAS
Through the stories of the people who have been part of our groups in Helsinki, the places where they live and the reinvention of urban nature as a space for connection, resilience and well-being.
Find more pictures of our group interventions in RECETAS pilote cities.
How were nature-based and social activities tested?
Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups.
Intervention Group
Groups of 5–8 participants met once a week for 1–4 hours over the course of 9 weeks. The nature-based social prescribing intervention was designed around participant preferences and included:
- Excursions to parks and gardens
- Shared reflection on personal experiences with nature and loneliness
- Discussions on the meaning of nature in everyday life
- Virtual and art-based nature programs
- Peer support guided by the “Circle of Friends” group model
Two trained professionals facilitated the sessions, supporting the group process and individual engagement. Before the intervention began, participants were interviewed about their expectations and wishes and were offered empowerment letters to encourage self-reflection and motivation.
Control Group
Participants in the control group continued with their usual care routines, which included standard outdoor recreation activities provided by their long-term care facilities.
Circle of Friends®
In Finland, much experience of alleviating older people’s loneliness has been gained over 20 years through the Circle of Friends scheme organized by the Finnish Association for the Welfare of Older People. A number of Circle of Friends groups are annually organized in Helsinki. The Circle of Friends has been shown to improve health and well-being, and to decrease the use of health and social services by 30% of those participating in the Circle of Friends.
To learn more about The Circle of Friends, click here.
News & Event in Helsinki
RECETAS at #the 2025 EPH Conference: Advancing Nature-Based and Community-Centred Public Healt
At the European Public Health Conference (EPH2025) in Helsinki, the RECETAS Project actively contributed to key discussions on nature-based interventions, mental health, social prescribing, and loneliness.
WEBINAR – “Nature Experiences as an Antidote to Loneliness” in Helsinki
The Vanhustyön keskusliitto is hosting a webinar exploring how nature-based experiences can help reduce loneliness among older adults living in service residences and housing units.
One Year with RECETAS: a Look Back at our Achievements
The 4th Annual Consortium Meeting, held in Helsinki on June 4–5, 2025, provided a meaningful opportunity to reflect, showcase emerging results, deepen collaboration, and celebrate our collective achievements.
RECETAS Team in Finland Presents at EuGMS 2025
The RECETAS team in Helsinki contributed to the EuGMS 2025 Congress « New Landscapes in Geriatric Medicine” with an oral poster presentation.
Bringing Communities Together Through Nature-Based Approaches
[FINLAND] Age Matters! Seminar Highlights Research on Ageing
The RECETAS team in Finland contributed to the programme of the Age Matters! seminar on 22–23 May 2025 at Tampere University, an interdisciplinary event explore contemporary questions related to age and ageing.
Spotlight on… Dr Kaisu Pitkälä – University of Helsinki
The RECETAS partnership is rich in interdisciplinarity and expertise on topics related to mental health, loneliness and nature-based solutions.
About Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and the largest city in Finland. Founded in 1550, Helsinki came under Russian rule in 1809, before gaining its independence in 1917. The city lies in the far south of the country, on a peninsula on the shore of the Gulf of Finland. Helsinki is a vibrant seaside city with 327 beautiful islands and green urban areas. The annual temperature changes are important aspects of the climate and natural areas in Helsinki.
It has been observed that residents in long-term care facilities (LTCF) in Helsinki do not get enough outdoors or into the nature and loneliness threaten residents’health, cognition and wellbeing:
36% experienced loneliness
56% feel that they have not been enough outdoors
Helsinki, with dark, chilly winters and light, pleasantly warm summer, is a place for nature experiences:
1/3 of Helsinki is made of diverse green spaces
Parks and forests are open to all!
City population
656 920
Population density
2,986/km²
City SDG index
85,90
Subjective well-being ranking
#1 (2020)
Average Temperature
5°C
Köppen classification
Warm Summer Continental Climate (Cfb)
Get in touch
Are you an organization based in Helsinki and dealing with these topics? Do you want to share your experience ? Are you interested in getting involved in RECETAS activities?
Contact us !
Kaisu Pitkala
Professor, MD, PhD, Research director
kaisu.pitkala@helsinki.fi
Anu Jansson
PhD, Director of Development and Participation
Research Coordinator, RECETAS Finland
anu.jansson@miinasillanpaa.fi
Annika Kolster
Researcher, PhD student
annika.kolster@helsinki.fi
Laura Rautiainen
Researcher, PhD student
laura.rautiainen@vtkl.fi
Ulla Aalto
Nursing home doctor, Post-doc researcher
ulla.aalto@fimnet.fi
Timo Partonen
Professor, Researcher
timo.partonen@thl.fi
