How did it go?

ESPOO
ESBO
3
2014
A MAGAZINE FOR ESPOO RESIDENTS
How did
it go?
The Director of Health
Care promised that
he would cut waiting
times in a year » 6
Through the eyes of a geologist » 5 | A vibrant yard » 12 | Are you on the map? » 14 | Espoo Live! » 19
ESPOO STORY
Lakisto
treasure
THE HOME OF more than 300 young
people and adults. The workplace
of hundreds of people. A research
and rehabilitation centre. Meaningful work, activities and inspiration for
various needs. The Rinnekoti nursing
home in Lakisto in Espoo is all this.
On Espoo Day, 30 August 2014,
Rinnekoti
will be open to all Espoo residents
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The programme features an art exhibition,
the unveiling of a work of environmental art, guided tours, tours of the
Sister Aino Museum and Rinnekoti
Museum and a performance by the
band of the Meripihka activity centre. In addition to handicrafts, visitors
can buy seasonal outdoor plants and
indoor plants grown in the Rinnekoti
garden and delicacies baked at Café
Rinnepulla. What is the most popular
product at Café Rinnepulla?
“Crystal buns,” says Ria, 25, without hesitation. She has lived in the
area for three years.
Marcus, 22, who has lived in a
Rinnekoti Foundation apartment for
a year, recommends the Martintalo
dining room and handicraft and cultural workshops for visitors. Markus
spends his days producing the Marttis digizine at the online workshop.
The digizine
is available at www.marttis.fi.
Visitors may also meet Kristiina,
63, a friend with a dark sense of
humour.
“I have lived here for 40 years,
and there is no escape,” she says with
a smile.
Kristiina works at the Rinnekoti
garden, but dreams of a job in the
café or kitchen.
“Unless they finally let me retire,”
she says with a serious face – before
bursting into her contagious laughter.
In 1939, Rinnekoti
moved to the Skobgy
estate. Ria (left),
Marcus and Kristiina
welcome all Espoo
residents to visit the
Rinnekoti Museum.
Espoo Day at
Rinnekoti in Lakisto
on 30/8 from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rinnekodintie 10.
The Rinnekoti residents
have prepared the
programme for the day
together with the staff.
n KATARINA CYGNEL-NUORTIE
PHOTO ANTTI VETTENRANTA
The story of Rinnekoti began when Sister Aino
Miettinen took responsibility for Martti and
Mauri, two mentally disabled children, at the
Helsinki Deaconess Institute in 1927. Source:
www.marttis.fi
2
«
ESPOO MAGAZINE 3/2014
EDITORIAL
ESPOO
ESBO
3
2014
PHOTO JUHA VALKEAJOKI
A MAGAZINE FOR ESPOO RESIDENTS
Interested in better health?
YES? IN THAT CASE, we have good news: you can make
Head of Social and Health Services
Juha Metso
•
Join ion
uss
he disc
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EBOOK • F
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• FA C E B O
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FA C
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.com/
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www.fa kaupunki
espoon
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» 2 ESPOO STORY » Welcome to Rinnekoti
» 3 EDITORIAL » Juha Metso
» 4 NEAR HERE » Talk of the town
» 5 NEAR HERE » Through the eyes of a geologist
» 6 AT THE CORE » Health-care waiting times
» 10 AT THE CORE » Health-care services
» 11 AT WORK » The doctor will see you now
» 12 PEARLS » A vibrant yard
»14 IN THE SPOTLIGHT » Are you on the map?
» 15 COLUMN » Joonas Konstig
» 16 GOOD NEWS » Everyday power
» 18 ON THE MOVE » Basic endurance
» 19 ON THE STAGE » Espoo Live!
» 20 ESPOO.FI » At your service
OO
Content 3/2014
EB
go to
app.citynomadi.com,
download Nomadi
and search ‘Espoo’.
C
RANTARAITTI
ROUTE
INFORMATION
FOR MOBILE
DEVICES:
a difference. Even though genes have a major effect
on our health, there is much we can do ourselves. It is
never too late to make changes, and it is a good idea to
start today.
Diseases and the most common causes of death
are related to our lifestyles. Smoking, lack of exercise,
obesity, low intake of fruit and vegetables, excessive
drinking and untreated hypertension – we can have
an effect on all of these. For example, regular exercise
benefits the mind and body in many ways. Exercising
with someone else is even better for you: relationships
have an even more positive effect on health and wellbeing. According to an African adage, “If you want to go
fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”. Relationships can also have a favourable effect on our lifestyles. Caring and loving are expressed through practical
deeds among colleagues, friends and loved ones. Everything we do involves effort and sometimes failure.
We can do a great deal, today and from now on, to
make life more pleasant, for others and ourselves.
MAGAZINE FOR ESPOO RESIDENTS
Public bulletin to all households Feedback and suggestions
lukijapalaute@espoo-lehti.fi Publisher City of Espoo, PO
Box 12, 02070 City of Espoo, tel. (09) 81 621, www.espoo.fi,
firstname.lastname@espoo.fi Editor in Chief Satu Tyry-Salo,
Communications Director Editors A-lehdet Dialogi Oy, PO Box
410, 00811 Helsinki, firstname.lastname@dialogi.fi
Managing Editor Katarina Cygnel-Nuortie Layout Jessica
Leino Producer Irene Dahlman Printed by Sanomapaino Oy
Distribution Itella Notifications kari.blom@itella.com and
mirja.myllymaki@itella.com Cover Antti Vettenranta and Fleur
Wilson ISSN 1798-8446
ESPOO MAGAZINE 3/2014
»3
TALK OF
THE TOWN
QUESTION | Long in planning, the construction of the
Espoo Hospital has turned the car park next to the
Jorvi Hospital into a gigantic building site. We asked
project managers Tero Vainio and Elina Kylmänen
what will emerge next to Jorvi.
ANSWER | The Espoo Rehabilitation and Release Hospital will be completed in 2016.
Its construction began last September. It is the largest construction project in Espoo, with a gross area of
68,000 square metres, around half of which consists of
parking facilities. The Espoo City Council has granted
EUR 150 million to the project.
THE NEW HOSPITAL will operate in close cooperation
with Jorvi, providing patients with more seamless services. It will offer rehabilitation services after acute special
care, preparing patients for release. A bridge will be built
between the two hospitals.
The facilities of the new hospital have been designed
to optimally serve their purpose, offering an ideal combination of privacy and a sense of community. The hospital
will have 270 single rooms, of which 15 are intended for
terminal care. Single rooms reduce the risk of infections
and make it easier for patients to receive guests and
take care of practical arrangements.
ORIGINALLY, the City of Espoo intended to establish a
combined hospital, senior citizens’ centre and health
care centre in conjunction with the Puolarmetsä Hospital In 2012, the City Council decided to build a hospital in
conjunction with Jorvi to facilitate more seamless cooperation and flexible patient streams. Patients will not need
to travel elsewhere for rehabilitation or travel to Jorvi
for examinations and consultations. n
New operating model:
Get Me!
THIS AUTUMN, Espoo is piloting a new oper-
ating model: Get Me! tagging. The model
makes use of an information system whereby
people working with children and young people can enter contact information for residents aged 9–28 who may need support.
When at least two professionals have
tagged the same person, this child or
young person, or his or her guardians, will
be contacted for their permission to start
cooperation.
A collaborative meeting will be organised
between the child or young person and the
professionals who tagged them. If the child or
young person is a minor, his or her guardians
are requested to attend the meeting as well.
The situation of the child or young person
is discussed at the meeting, with the aim of
finding solutions. The idea is to identify small
problems and concerns before they start to
snowball.
THE OPERATING MODEL was developed in
the Netherlands in the late 1990s. It became
statutory in the country in 2010. In Finland,
the operating model is being piloted in Espoo
and Mikkeli.
In Espoo, Get Me! training has already been
organised for Youth Services employees, the
police, pupil and student welfare counsellors,
psychologists, nurses and some of Omnia’s
employees. The goal is to adopt the operating
model nationally and expand it to cover children of all ages, including babies. n
Planning to move to Espoo?
INFOCHAT IN AN INFORMATION service for
anyone planning to move from outside Finland to Espoo, immigrants already living here
and everybody interested in the city.
The Infochat service gives you information
about the services of the City of Espoo, services in Finland in general, and the various
alternatives to immigrate to Finland. The
Infochat service counsellors do not solve
single situations but tell you about opportunities and guide you forward.
For security reasons, do not reveal any
personal information in a Chat discussion and
other communications.
The Infochat service hours are 13–15 (1–3
p.m.) local time from Tuesday to Thursday
except on Finnish holidays. In Espoo you are
served by the Espoo Citizen Services and In
Espoo service counsellors.
espoo.fi/infochat
Infochat is a service provided jointly by
the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen. It tests a channel for quick information about the services of the cities, Finnish
society and various alternatives to immigrate
to Espoo and Finland. n
LIFE ON THE HORSE-DRAWN RAILWAY
PHOTO ESPOON KAUPUNGINMUSEO
y has
This sad stor ding.
e en
an unfortunat
4
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ESPOO MAGAZINE 3/2014
DURING THE FIRST WORLD WARin 1914–
1917, Russia built fortresses around Helsinki. In Espoo, the line of fortresses was
located in Westend, Tapiola and Leppävaara, approximately where the Ring
I highway runs today. The wood was cut
from the surrounding forests, and two
railways were built for its transport. One
of them ran from the Espoo station to
Nupurinkartano and the other to Röylä.
The foundations were built so carelessly
that the rails could not carry the weight
of a steam engine. The carriages were
drawn by horses.
Men from Eastern Russia were
brought to Finland to help with the felling and construction. The first 2,100
guest workers arrived in August 1916.
Divided into five groups, they were
placed in Espoo, Kauniainen, Vantaa,
Korso and Sipoo. Reportedly, some of the
guest workers were Chinese trainrobbers, highwaymen and runaways from
the Manchuria and Amur regions.
Locals were reluctant to accommodate them, even in their barns, so the
Chinese workers had to live in primitive
barracks. There was a shortage of everything, including food and winter equipment. Nasty diseases, such as syphilis
and prurigo, ran rampant among the
starved workers. They ate roots, frogs,
worms, rats and even fly agaric. Crime
flourished. The Cossacks tried to keep
order, but documents from that time
report thefts, burglaries, armed robberies and even killings.
The story has it that the police had
to shoot a Chinese worker who had
attacked a girl on a road in Espoo.
Another story reported that Chinese
workers assassinated a cruel Russian supervisor in an explosion in Leppävaara. The fortresses were never completed – the Russian Revolution interfered in 1917. n TARJA SINERVO
COMPILED BY NIINA KELLINSALMI AND KATARINA CYGNEL-NUORTIE
NEAR HERE
PHOTO ANTTI VETTENRANTA
NEAR HERE
THROUGH
THE EYES OF
A GEOLOGIST
Jukka-Pekka
Palmu pays close
attention to the
shape, colour
and structure of
stones.
“I HAVE COLLECTED all types of
stones over the years – stones that
remind me of almonds, discs or even
Mickey Mouse. I recognise different
types of rock right away, and I often
start to think about their origin. An
iceberg that drifted to Espoo, perhaps? I have worked in geology since
the 1970s. I have visited glaciers and
volcanoes, and travelled by canoe
and helicopter. Nevertheless, I feel
that Espoo is wonderfully diverse in
terms of its geology.
Pirunpelto in Tiistilä is one of
the most beautiful ancient shores in
Espoo – that is, an area that used to
be located on the shoreline of the
Baltic Sea. The area is covered with
round stones of relatively equal size.
If you walk from the end of
Itäranta in Tapiola towards the
Western Highway, you will end on a
granite rock by the sea. On the edge
of the rock, you can see very dark,
homogenic, fine-grained stone that
resembles the basaltic lava from
present volcanoes. The dark rock is
ancient basaltic lava.
Friisinkallio is located in the middle of an urban centre. The view
from this 74-metre rock is impressive: you can see all the way to
the sea. The granite is 1,800 million years old. It formed slowly from
magma deep in the bedrock.
In Nuuksio, near the Haltia nature
centre, you can study rocks with a
high granite content, the beginnings
of a pothole and glaciated rock. The
highest hills in Nuuksio emerged
from the Baltic Sea 11,000 years ago.
These are just a few examples of
the geological sites in Espoo. Geocaching makes them even more
exciting. The cache can be located
by an unusual erratic boulder, in an
unusual depression in the bedrock or
in a small cave.” n LILLI OLLIKAINEN
The Tapiola Church
region was located
on the shoreline of the
Baltic Sea at around the
time Jesus was born,
approximately
2,000 years
ago.
HOW HAS THE EARTH
DEVELOPED OVER
THE PAST 4,500 MILLION
YEARS?
AT THE GEO EXHIBITION IN ESPOO,
YOU CAN SEE THE FOOTPRINTS OF A DINOSAUR
AND A PIECE OF THE MOON.
Mon–Fri from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free entry.
More info: www.gtk.fi/geologia/geonayttelyt
or tel. 029 503 2166.
GTK AT YOUR
SERVICE
THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF FINLAND (GTK) has studied the Finnish
soil and bedrock since the 1880s. Geological information is needed for a
diverse range of projects, including the
search for construction materials, rock
excavation in the metro project and the
safe disposal of nuclear waste.
You can send samples to be examined by GTK. Each mineral, soil and
rock sample is examined and its sender
is informed of the results. n www.gtk.fi
ESPOO MAGAZINE 3/2014
»5
AT THE CORE
FASTER ACCESS
TO HEALTH CARE
At the beginning of 2013,
the Director of Health Care
in Espoo promised that he would
cut waiting times in a year.
How did it go?
TEXT KARI LATVANEN, PHOTOS ANTTI VETTENRANTA, ILLUSTRATION FLEUR WILSON
6
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ESPOO MAGAZINE 3/2014
AT YTIMESSÄ
THE CORE
“Gagarin and the others
are my heroes, and
the young man stops
a line of tanks in Beijing
illustrates my relationship
with bureaucracy.”
— Eetu Salunen
of Eetu Salunen on the eighth floor of Public Office Building 2 in the centre of Espoo has a view over the railway station. He
has photographs of Yuri Gagarin, John Wayne, Sigmund Freud and
Franz Kafka on one wall and a poster with a photograph from Tiananmen Square in Beijing from 25 years ago on another. In the poster, an
unknown young man stops a line of tanks.
“Gagarin and the others are my heroes, and the young man illustrates my relationship with bureaucracy,” says Salunen.
In addition to his medical education, Eetu Salunen, 45, has completed an MBA. He became Director of Health Care in Espoo in January
2013. Immediately, according to a headline in Länsiväylä, he promised
he would cut health care waiting times in a year.
“To be precise, the editor made that promise for me. My intention
was to shorten the waiting times for non-urgent appointments to less
than two weeks,” Salunen explains.
“At the time, the average waiting time for a non-urgent appointment
was six weeks.”
THE OFFICE
WHAT HAPPENED? The goal of waiting times of less than two weeks for
non-urgent appointments has not been reached. However, the situation has improved markedly.
According to the annual assessment report of the Auditing Committee of the City of Espoo, the median waiting time for a non-urgent
appointment to see a doctor at a municipal health care centre was 26
days at the end of 2013. The shortest waiting times were less than a
week, in Kilo, for example. In Puolarmetsä, the waiting time was more
than eight weeks.
“The situation continues to improve. Health care employees have
done excellent work under the supervision of Tuija Kumpulainen, Chief
Physician of Primary Health Care,” says Salunen.
“I still believe that the waiting time for non-urgent appointments
will soon be two or three weeks. This is possible with our present
resources.”
The demand for municipal health care services is increasing in
Espoo at an annual rate of 4–5%.
ESPOO MAGAZINE 3/2014
»
»7
AT THE CORE
Social welfare
and health care
reform
THE KEY CONTENT of the extensive social
welfare and health-care reform in Finland was
determined in June. The new model separates
the organisation of services from their production. Five administrative regions will be responsible for the organisation of social welfare and
health-care services. The purpose of the reform
is to ensure the availability of local services.
“The decisions made in June lay a solid foundation for the preparation of legislation,” says
Tuula Heinänen, Development Director of Social
and Health Services at the City of Espoo.
This is the most extensive social welfare and
health-care reform since the introduction of the
Primary Health Care Act in 1972.
“We nearly reached our goal
at the end of the May: the
waiting time for a non-urgent
appointment was three weeks.”
— Eetu Salunen
THE GOALS OF THE REFORM include ensur-
ing a consistently high level of services regardless of place of residence. In addition, primary
health care services will be enhanced. This
means that doctors at municipal health care
centres will become more accessible. Customers will increasingly be served by a single service provider.
“In Espoo, examples of more seamless services include its award-winning hip rehabilitation solution, Jorvi diabetes centre, joint on-call
services and special services for children,” says
Heinänen.
She believes that, after a turbulent start, the
system will offer an entirely new level of service. The customers will see the changes with a
slight delay.
“I think taxpayers will appreciate the
reform,” says Heinänen.
“Our resources are not sufficient for the
present system. We need to be able to produce
similar or better results in a more financially
sustainable manner.” •
“Population growth and the increasing proportion of immigrants
and people aged over 65 have increased the demand for health care
services,” says Salunen.
“In addition, the demand for public health care services is growing
as a result of the economic recession, with people transferring from
private to public health care.
The demand is growing, but the financial and human resources
available for the provision of services remain the same. The equation
seems difficult, but Salunen is unwaveringly optimistic.
“Primary health care is not difficult. We simply have to be able to
offer the right services to people when they need our services. We can
still considerably improve our efficiency in this respect.”
ESPOO RESIDENTS are feeling relatively healthy. According to the
National Institute for Health and Welfare, nearly 40% of Finns feel that
they are of average health or below. In Espoo, the corresponding proportion is 30%.
Around 60% of Espoo residents feel that their quality of life is high.
Symptoms of depression are less common in Espoo than in Finland on
average. In addition, Espoo residents feel less obese than the residents
of Vantaa, Turku, Oulu and Tampere, for example.
8
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ESPOO MAGAZINE 3/2014
Espoo residents are into exercise. In Turku and Vantaa, nearly 25%
of residents do not exercise in their free time. In Espoo, the corresponding proportion is around 17%.
Although Espoo residents represent the healthiest section of the
population, they are less satisfied than others with their health care
services. Around 33% of Finns feel that they have access to insufficient
medical services at municipal health care centres. In Espoo, this proportion is 43%.
ACCORDING TO SALUNEN, primary health care works very well in Espoo
as a whole. However, appointments with doctors at municipal health
care centres are a problem that is only partly solved. Salunen believes
that customer-focused services will make health care more efficient.
Borrowed from business life, the term means less bureaucracy in
health care services.
Espoo seeks to implement an operating model that enables health
care centres to operate as independently as possible. At the same time,
they will be competing with one another in customer service.
“Customers will have freedom of choice. If they feel that the customer service is better in Samaria or Kilo, for example, they can use
the health care centre of their choice,” says Salunen.
AT THE CORE
Health checks for
couch potatoes
How many healthy
years do you have
left? Do your lifestyle
choices give cause
for concern?
ESPOO RESIDENTS can get answers to these
and other questions effortlessly online. The
Espoo health check and education service
is available to all residents. After they have
answered questions about their lifestyle and
health, the system will produce a report on
their health risks and life expectancy.
This will help them make better choices
and lead a more active life. The service will
provide advice and encouragement by email.
“The philosophy behind the service is that
our lifestyle choices are the reason for most
of our illnesses, says Juha Metso, Head of
Social and Health Services.
“Who can affect our lifestyle choices if not
ourselves?”
According to Metso, the electronic health
check service is a tool that is suitable for anyone who wants information on their health.
The service is free of charge and independent
of commercial interests. The service does not
require any commitments, and only the user
has access to the information that he or she
provides.
“However, I would like to point out that
close relationships are even more important
than lifestyle choices,” says Metso.
“Relationships should be cherished and
fostered.” •
Online health check service:
espoo.fi/terveysvalmennus
“We will also create systems that encourage health care centres to
acquire more customers.”
The competition is not limited to Espoo. Since the beginning of
2014, health care customers have been free to choose non-urgent care
in any municipality.
“The first statistics will be available at the end of the year. It will be
interesting to see what customers have decided to do,” says Salunen.
“It seems that a few hundred customers have transferred from
Espoo to Kauniainen. Helsinki and Vantaa have been less attractive.
Our goal is for Espoo to attract more customers than it loses.”
The City of Espoo website features an online health check and
health education service.
All Espoo residents can sign up for the service. After answering
questions about their lifestyle and health, they will receive a report on
their health risks and life expectancy.
“The service is available at all times. I recommend it to everyone,
particularly men, who tend to hesitate contacting health care services
directly,” says Salunen.
“Online, the threshold is extremely low.”
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY is also needed. According to Salunen,
atively healthily and sleeps well.
“Statistically, life is fair rather than unfair. Lifestyle choices have
their consequences, as we all know from our circle of friends.”
Salunen keeps up with Espoo residents’ lifestyle choices and their
consequences by occasionally working as a doctor at a health care centre. Last summer, he worked at the Samaria health care centre in the
centre of Espoo for a while.
“This autumn, I intend to work at another health care centre. I love
working as a doctor. Being able to help others is rewarding.” n
customer-focused health care also means that people monitor their
health closely and make healthier choices.
“Naturally, in serious illnesses, the main responsibility lies with the
health care system,” says Salunen.
“However, in 95% of all cases, the patient can bear the main responsibility. For example, a patient with type 2 diabetes may have a 30-minute appointment with a doctor twice a year. The patient deals with the
illness on his or her own for the rest of the year – for 5,000 hours, not
including sleep.”
SALUNEN PRACTICES what he preaches. He exercises regularly, eats rel-
ESPOO MAGAZINE 3/2014
»9
AT THE CORE
From magical water
to online services
Espoo used to rely on health
care services provided by Helsinki.
Today, Espoo is a forerunner
in service development.
IN THE 1880S, even the renovation of the vic-
10
«
ainen and Kirkkonummi has been reflected
in the seven expansions of the Jorvi Hospital
between 1986 and 2011.
In 1993, the City of Espoo combined day
care, social work and health care centres as
well as the operations of the Puolarmetsä
Hospital and Muurala Hospital in its administration. In the 2000s, day care was separated
from the mix and began to collaborate more
closely with basic education.
TODAY, 10% OF HEALTH CARE services in Espoo
are provided electronically. Patients have
access to their patient records, laboratory
results and electronic prescriptions online.
Electronic health care services supplement
traditional services and provide self-care
tools. In addition to appointment booking,
electronic services cover a wide range of care,
from online therapy for depression and panic
disorders to health education for the monitoring of lifestyle choices.
The hip rehabilitation solution in Espoo
is a prime example of smarter services, providing customised treatment and enabling
patients to be released sooner. The development of a similar solution for stroke patients
is in progress.
WHAT TYPE of health care services will be
available in ten or twenty years? The need for
treatment will be probably be evaluated and
discussed during online video appointments.
It may be possible to enter blood sugar levels
and other results measured by patients in the
patient record system. In other words, electronic services will be increasingly interactive.
Physical face-to-face appointments may be
less common in 20 years’ time than they are
now.
The rapid pace of development in health
care technology will certainly provoke lively
ethical discussion. n NIINA KELLINSALMI
BEFORE
TODAY
TIMELINE
PHOTOS ESPOON KAUPUNGINMUSEO (MUURALAN SAIRAALA 1940) JA ESPOO.FI/TERVEYSVALMENNUS
ar’s cowshed was a more significant budget
item than health care personnel expenses.
In the eighteenth century, health care was
mainly based on the water from the mineral
spring by the Kirkkojärvi lake. Doctors used
the water to medicate everyone who needed
help, from soldiers to members of the high
society.
The first municipal hospital was opened in
Muurala in 1920. With its operating theatre,
it was one of the most modern hospitals in
the country at the time. The need for hospital
beds increased in the 1950s, and Espoo residents were placed in hospitals in Helsinki.
Introduced in 1972, the Primary Health
Care Act obligated municipalities to provide
primary health care. The population of Espoo
was growing rapidly at the time. In response,
the Jorvi Hospital was completed in 1976 and
the Puolarmetsä Hospital in 1978.
Later population growth in Espoo, Kauni-
1907
First municipal
doctor in Espoo
ESPOO MAGAZINE 3/2014
1937
Municipal dental
care in Espoo
1965
Home nursing in
Espoo
1972
Primary Health
Care Act
1993
Social work and
health care are
merged in Espoo.
2016
The Espoo Rehabilitation and
Release Hospital
will be completed.
AT WORK
FACT
In health care in Espoo:
21 days
is the average waiting time
for a non-urgent appointment
in Tapiola.
0 days
is the waiting time for
urgent appointments.
11
health care centres
in total.
THE ATMOSPHERE in the waiting
lounge of the Tapiola health care
centre is peaceful. The peak hours
are over for the day. Light floods in
from the windows as if to offer comfort and solace to those seeking
treatment. The office of doctor Kirsi
Orasaari is light and spacious, with
no sense of rush. She focuses on
what her patients have to say. Her
days are filled with their stories.
“You often remember the difficult situations: incurable chronic illnesses. In addition, symptoms that
remain mysterious despite several
examinations tend to occupy your
mind,” says Orasaari.
However, doctors at health care
centres do not have to work alone.
“The best aspects of this job
include multiprofessional cooperation with nurses and physiotherapists, among other professionals. They refer patients to me, and I
refer patients to them.”
Knowledgeable patients are a
pleasure to work with. They have
opinions, but are open to
suggestions by
the doctor.
“It’s particularly
reward-
ing to be able to accurately diagnose an illness that can be cured for
good,” says Orasaari.
In addition, it is rewarding to see
that patients have been able to take
control of their illnesses through
lifestyle changes.
GENERAL practitioner Kirsi
Orasaari has worked at the Tapiola
health care centre since 2007.
“I like working here. My colleagues are nice, and doctors have
sufficient resources. Occasionally,
we have staff shortages because
of sick leave absences, for example. I can plan my days independently. You shouldn’t feel rushed in
this work.”
Orasaari’s planning skills and
good labour availability at the
health care centre explain the lack
of a sense of rush. In addition
to working as a doctor at the
health care centre and childcare clinic in Tapiola, she
serves as a school physi-
cian in Niittykumpu. Orasaari chose
to specialise in general practice,
but she also considered pediatrics.
In her current job, she has patients
from small children to the elderly.
Recently, she saw a foreign
patient with an interpreter. A full
hour was reserved for the appointment.
“Usually, 30 minutes is enough,
sometimes even 15 minutes. Otherwise, you can book a new appointment,” says Orasaari.
Prescription renewals and the
delivery of laboratory results are
easy to handle electronically. In
more complicated cases, a face-toface appointment is the best option.
n HELEN MOSTER
Kirsi Orasaari, 40, graduated as a General Practitioner from the University
of Helsinki in 2002. She has worked
at the Mäntsälä and Lohja health care
centres and the Children’s Hospital
in Helsinki. She lives in Olari with her
boyfriend and their four children from
previous relationships. Her hobbies
include yoga, walking and cycling.
Finding
the right
diagnosis is
rewarding.
THE DOCTOR
WILL SEE
YOU NOW
PHOTO NICK TULINEN
Kirsi Orasaari is familiar
with the stories of
hundreds of patients.
She knows how to listen.
ESPOO MAGAZINE 3/2014
» 11
TEXT KATARINA CYGNEL-NUORTIE, PHOTO ANTTI VETTENRANTA
PEARLS
A VIBRANT
YARD
LAST WINTER, snowboarders
Heikki Sorsa and Eero Ettala rode
the brown metal rail in the yard of
the Saunalahti School. They recorded the event on video. It attracted
a large number of onlookers, and
no one tried to stop the snowboarders. There was no need to stop
them: the structures in the yard
were made to last. At the suggestion of Rector Hanna Sarakorpi,
the long walls in the sloped yard
were equipped with metal edges.
The designers at Verstas Architects
were enthusiastic about the idea.
Even the large wooden boxes for
plants were made suitable for skateboarding and scooting tricks.
Completed in 2012, the building
houses a school, a day-care centre,
a library, youth facilities and afternoon and hobby clubs. It is filled
with activity from morning to evening, on weekdays and at weekends. The yard for smaller children
faces the morning sun. The yard for
the older schoolchidren and young
people faces the afternoon and
evening sun. •
Saunalahti School
Brinkinmäentie 1
12
«
ESPOO MAGAZINE 3/2014
The
yard of
the Saunalahti
School is the
heart of Saunalahti.
It won the 2013
Environmental
Structure of the
Year award.
Eerik Furuholm (right),
11, became interested in
skateboarding a few years
ago. Marcus Hautalahti11,
took up skateboarding
at the age of 7.
ESPOO MAGAZINE 3/2014
» 13
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The Espoo
map service
features aerial
photographs, city
plans, information
on roadworks and
much more.
Are you
on the map?
red with maps at the City of Espoo
Department of Land Surveying.
However, Espoo residents have not
needed paper maps for years. Around
1,300 residents use the Espoo online
map service every day. Its most popular features include current and historical aerial images, city plans and
maps with information on roadworks
and construction dates of buildings.
The menus provide access to postal code areas, the service areas of
health care centres, the locations
of polling stations and the locations
of nature trails. Clickable speech
bubbles offer more detailed information.
Launched more than ten years
ago, the Espoo map service offers
more construction-related information than the map services of other
cities and towns.
“The service shows where
construction projects are in progress,” says Cadastral Surveyor Mirja
Metsälä.
The maps can be printed out or
shared via email. Users can create
events on the maps and send the
address of the event as a link to participants. They can also include event
information. Creating an event requires that the user has registered for
the service and signed in using his or
her user ID. Creating an event is easy.
In addition to Espoo residents, the
map service is useful for business
owners and construction professionals, for example. Real estate agents
can search the service for information, and a company can find a location for its operations, complete with
contact information. Residents can
even purchase the floor plan of their
home if they are planning to sell.
“The map service makes it easier
for residents to take care of business, as the maps can be studied on a
home computer,” says Metsälä. n
www.kartat.espoo.fi
The Espoo map service
at www.kartat.espoo.fi
includes a soil map.
14
«
ESPOO MAGAZINE 3/2014
TEXT NIINA KELLINSALMI, PHOTO 123RF AND KARTAT.ESPOO.FI
WALLS AND DESKTOPS are cove-
PHOTO MAREK SABOGAL
TEXT MIKAELA KATRO, PHOTO 123RF
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Let
your
creativity
flow!
COLUMN
Imprints of home
3 X COURSE
WHEN I WAS YOUNG, my home district felt like
Now is the time to sign up for courses
at the Espoo Adult Education Centre. Its
programme features many new courses.
IMAGES FOR BLOGS
WHAT | Are you interested
in blogging? Do you like
taking photographs? The
blog photography course studies various styles of photography by examining popular
blogs. Based on these observations, the participants create expressive and narrative content. They start blogs
where they publish the photographs they take during
the course. The most popular
blog topics include interior
design, fashion, lifestyle and
food. However, the course is
not limited to these areas.
WHERE | Ruusutorppa
School, Leppävaara. Thursdays, 2/10 to 30/10 from 5.30
p.m. to 8 p.m. 4 classes/12
hours/EUR 46. Instructor: Hanna Rosti. The par-
ticipants must have a compact digital camera or a digital SLR camera. Recharge
your camera and bring along
an empty memory card.
Registration: online and by
telephone from 13/8. Course
E142574. New!
WHO IS IT FOR? | New blog-
gers and those interested in
starting a blog.
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE FAMILY
WHAT | The course studies
the various functionalities
of a digital camera and the
transfer of images from the
camera to a computer. The
participants learn to improve
their images by adjusting the
camera settings and using
imaging software. The course
includes various photography
exercises.
WHERE | Ruusutorppa
School, Leppävaara. Wednesdays, 9/11 to 3/12 from 5.30
p.m. to 8 p.m. 3 classes/9
hours/EUR 42. Instructor:
Terhi Korhonen. The course
fee covers a parent with a
child aged over 6. In addition
to your camera, bring along
a USB cable, if available. The
exercises are designed for
children: the idea is for the
parent and the child to learn
together. Registration: online
and by telephone from 13/8.
Course E143064. New!
WHO IS IT FOR? | Adults and
children interested in photography.
CROCHET JEWELLERY
WHAT | Create beautiful jewellery using easy crocheting and knitting techniques
and beads and buttons with
thin metal wire and cotton
and linen yarns. Create flowers, leaves and other shapes
from wool yarns by sewing
and felting.
WHERE | Kuunkehrä 2, Olari.
Wednesdays, 10/9 to 24/9
from 5.30 p.m. to 8.45 p.m. 3
classes/12 hours/EUR 26 + EUR
2 for printouts. Instructor: Marjut Nordberg. Bring along small
crochet hooks, knitting needles,
buttons and other recycled
materials, a measuring tape,
scissors and small pliers. List
of supplies: espoo.fi/tyovaenopisto » Opetus » Esitteet ja tarvikeluettelot » Käsityö. Registration: online and by telephone
from 13/8. Course E141802.
WHO IS IT FOR? | Those
the dreariest place on earth. Life was elsewhere.
Whenever possible, I took the bus from Espoonlahti to Helsinki along the Western Highway. It
seemed that the only purpose of Southern Espoo
was to lead people to Helsinki – as if it was a slide
into an exciting pool of life.
Even adults listed fast access to the centre of
Helsinki as one of the best aspects of Southern
Espoo. I knew the timetables of the last buses
from Helsinki back to Espoonlahti by heart. I often
ran to catch the last bus – not to make it back
home more quickly, but to spend just a little more
time in Helsinki.
No wonder that I moved to Helsinki after gaining a place at university. During my university
years, I lived in many places in Helsinki. However,
I always felt more at home in the western parts
of Helsinki. Ruskeasuo and Lauttasaari felt more
pleasant than Vallila or Kallio. The bridge to Kulosaari felt like the edge of the universe. When an
old friend from Espoo moved to Tikkurila in Vantaa, it felt somehow … immoral.
When the time was right to start a family, we
started looking for an apartment in Espoo. It felt
right.
Ernest Hemingway wrote that some of the places of his life had been good to him and some less
so, but that he might not have been that good
to the places either. This rings true for me. Your
home district cannot treat you better than you
treat your home district.
TODAY, I live happily in a village. My urban craze, a
whim of my youth, is long gone. My village is Tapiola. My home, office and hobbies are here. All of
the shops that I need are here, along with libraries
and second-hand bookshops. My children never
run out of things to do here. The Western Highway
is a noisy road to a chaos called Helsinki. I still
like visiting Helsinki, though. Fortunately, I do not
have to go there every day.
Our environment shapes us as we grow. It leaves imprints on us. Later, we realise that it is our
JOONAS KONSTIG
best fit. Espoo is my home. n Joonas Konstig is an author living in Espoo.
interested in arts and crafts. n
ESPOO MAGAZINE 3/2014
» 15
GOOD NEWS
RHEUMATISM came as a shock to Hannele.
“It took me a long time to accept my illness. I was worried about coping. My children
were small at the time. I wish we’d had a
group like this twelve years ago. It would have
made life much easier!”
Hannele discovered the Everyday Power
group two years ago. The support group facilitated life and symptom management and
made her feel good.
At first, she participated as a member.
Then she was asked to lead a group.
“After much thought, I said yes. The group
had helped me, so I wanted to help others.
Being proactive is important for those suffering from chronic illnesses. We are the best
experts in our health and the ways in which
we can make life easier. The Everyday Power
meetings support self-sufficiency.”
Each group meets six times. The groups
focus on coping methods rather than illnes-
ses. For this reason, people suffering from
any chronic illness or those close to them can
participate. The groups discuss exercise, nutrition, medication, interaction skills and difficult feelings, among other topics.
Ritva Mahnala partners with Hannele in
organising meetings. Ritva works at the Espoo
Association of Organisations and coordinates
the groups in collaboration with the City of
Espoo.
“All participants are under an obligation of
confidentiality. The participants don’t have to
share anything about their illness with others
if they don’t want to,” Ritva explains.
THE SELF-CARE MODEL for the groups was
developed at Stanford University. The instructors are provided with training, and the content of each meeting is carefully planned. All
instructors suffer from a chronic illness. They
can relate to what the participants share at
BABY STEPS
You can never completely forget
your illness. However, there is
no point in thinking about it
all of the time, says Hannele
Savolainen. She feels
empowered by her Everyday
Power peer support group.
TEXT PÄIVI LEHTO-TRAPNOWSKI, PHOTO NICK TULINEN
16
«
ESPOO MAGAZINE 3/2014
the meetings.
At the meetings, each participant prepares
an action plan for the following week.
“The purpose is for the participants to
engage in things that they like. One of the
participants decided to take up painting
again, after a break of two decades. We saw
the paintings. They were absolutely wonderful,” says Ritva.
Small miracles happen at the meetings,
and the participants strongly support one
another.
“In April, one of the participants said that
the opportunity to talk about everyday things
honestly is what is best about the groups. This
summarises our operating method well.”
The opportunity to help others makes Hannele feel good.
“After each meeting, I feel that I have succeeded in providing support. Listening to
others and their stories also helps you forget
your illness for a while. I believe that the other
participants share this experience.”
BEING ACTIVE is always better than staying on
the couch, feeling miserable. The participants
get to know one another at the meetings and
may continue to meet beyond the scheduled
six Everyday Power sessions.
“One group decided to take up yoga together,” says Hannele.
The Everyday Power meetings promote
physical exercise.
“One of the participants decided to always
take the stairs instead of using the lift. He
climbed the steps slowly and very carefully.
He is a good example of the importance of
setting reasonable goals. Your goals must not
make you feel overwhelmed. You must listen
to your body,” says Hannele.
Her motto is: “Never give up!” Her persistence helps her cope with her illness.
“At the moment, I’m feeling relatively good.
I can cope if I take good care of myself. After
all, I’m an expert in my illness. I make sure
that I get enough sleep, eat healthily and have
a social life. Water running, water aerobics,
Nordic walking and other types of exercise are
an essential part of my daily life. Naturally, I
also take care of my medication and see
my doctor regularly. Positive thinking is
important as well.”
Ritva and Hannele encourage all Espoo
residents with a chronic illness to participate in the groups. The next Everyday Power group will start in
August, followed by new groups
in September and October. The
meetings give a lot of food for
thought – other than the
illness. n
Hannele’s motto is:
”Never give up!”
An international
operating model
THE EVERYDAY POWER programme is
based on a globally adopted model of peer
support for people suffering from chronic illnesses. The goal is to encourage participants
to make positive changes in their lives. Support from peers at the groups is an empowering experience.
Everyday Power groups will meet at
health care centres in Espoo as follows: Tapiola 18/8 to 22/9, Matinkylä 26/8 to 30/9,
Samaria 29/9 to 3/11 and Leppävaara 14/10
to 18/11.
Each group meets six times. Each meeting
lasts for 2.5 hours. More info and registration: ritva.mahnala@ejy.fi, tel. 050 410 2555.
INFORMATION on other support groups
for senior citizens: tel. (09) 816 85320 or
(09) 816 30265 (Mon–Thu from 10 a.m. to 3
p.m.), seniorineuvonta@espoo.fi (espoo.fi »
In English » Social and Health Services » For
Elderly).
The Kipinä group is intended for those
who are at risk of social exclusion. n
More information: www.espoo.fi/hyvinvointi
ESPOO MAGAZINE 3/2014
» 17
ON THE MOVE
Nordic walking on Tuesdays at 6 p.m.
Departure from Tuomarila train station (Tuomarilantie 4), tel. 050 525
0509, or the Leppävaara swimming
pool car park (Veräjäpellonkatu 15),
tel. 040 550 4010. Free of charge,
walking sticks available for loan.
Organised by the Outdoor Association
of Espoo.
Sporty mum
“EXERCISE MAKES me feel good and
energetic. It also helps me be a better mother, says Janina Pusin, 23, a
student and the mother to a toddler,
Alexia.
A long walk with a pram works up
a nice sweat. The sea provides a wonderful setting in Matinkylä. Time flies
when on a walk.
“If I go running alone, I usually go to
the forest track in Olari. It has exercise
equipment as well. In addition, I go to
the gym several times a week.”
Alexia’s dad takes care of her while
mother is working out.
“My husband plays football or floorball when it’s his turn to exercise.” n
Games and
excursions
DANCE
AND GAMES
Moonlight Dance at the Hanikka
senior citizens’ recreational centre (Matasaarentie, next to the Volunteer Fire Brigade House, bus 145)
on Monday 18/8 from 5 p.m. to 7.30
p.m. Live music and summer games,
such as boccia and mölkky. Music
by Nostalgiset. Organised by City
of Espoo Sports Services and the
Espoonlahti Pensioners’ Association.
KETTLEBELL
FITNESS
Kettlebell exercise is suitable for
beginners and more advanced participants alike. Exercise sessions
on Thursdays 28/8–27/11 from 6
p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Koulumestari
School sports hall (Muuralanpiha
3). EUR 40 per term. If you have a
kettlebell, bring it along! More info:
Donna Suomi, tel. 045 182 7275.
Registration: wau-ry.fi
» Would you like
to improve your basic endurance –
but don’t know how? Ask the City of
Espoo sports instructors! Exercise
advice is provided Monday to Friday
from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., tel. (09) 8166
0800. n
EXERCISE ADVICE
» Exercise
sessions for families and for mothers
and babies are offered at the
Kivenlahti residents’ park (Merivirta
12) on Tuesdays, 19/8 and 26/8,
and at the Olari residents’ park on
Wednesdays, 13/8, 20/8 and 27/8.
Each day begins with an exercise
session for adults with a child aged
1–6 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. An exercise
session for mothers and babies is
offered from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. Free
of charge. No registration required.
Wear outdoor exercise clothing.
Organised by City of Espoo Sports
Services, residents’ parks and
Himpulat. n
NORDIC
WALKING
FAMILY EXERCISE
FOR SENIORS AND JUNIORS
»
Himpulat & Pampulat is an exercise
event for senior citizens and families
with children. Exercise sessions will
be organised in Hopeakuu in Olari
(Friisinkalliontie 10) on Mondays, 29/9
to 24/11 (excl. 13/10), from 10.10 a.m.
to 10.50 a.m., and in the Kauklahti
senior centre on Tuesdays, 30/9 to
25/11 (excl. 14/10), from 10.10 a.m. to
10.50 a.m. Free entry. n himpulat.fi
18
«
ESPOO MAGAZINE 3/2014
SWIMMING POOLS
OPEN AGAIN
CYCLING
AND CULTURE
The Central Espoo and Tapiola swimming pools have opened after the
summer break. Espoonlahti swimming pool will open on 21/8. Olari
swimming pool will open on 7/1/2015.
Swimming is suitable even for those
suffering from asthma or joint problems. espoo.fi » In English » Culture
and Sport » Swimming Halls
Espoo has nearly 600 kilometres of
cycling routes. You can find them
all on the Sports Tracker service.
The Tapiola–Otaniemi route features
many cultural sights, such as the
WeeGee Exhibition Centre, the Dipoli congress centre, Otaranta and
Keilalahti. The route is 7.2 kilometres long and takes around 40 minutes to complete. sportstracker.com
CIRCUIT
TRAINING
HIKING
TRAILS
Espoo has many forest tracks with
exercise equipment that have lighting until 10 p.m. The following tracks
feature exercise equipment: Hanikka,
Haukilahti, Kalajärvi, Karakallio,
Kauklahti, Kuntokihara, Latokaski,
Leppävaara, Matinkylä and Olari.
espoo.fi » In English » Culture and
Sport » Outdoor Recreation
Espoo has 13 nature trails that
require no hiking gear. Ordinary outdoor shoes are sufficient. The Hanikka nature trail runs between Suinonsalmi, Kaitalahti and Soukansalmi.
The trail is around 5 kilometres long
and takes a couple of hours to complete. espoo.fi » In English » Culture
and Sport » Outdoor Recreation
TEXT LILLI OLLIKAINEN, PHOTOS LILLI OLLIKAINEN AND 123RF
A WEEK OF BASIC
ENDURANCE
TRAINING
Lightly
strenuous
exercise improves
your basic
endurance.
PHOTO EINO MANNER
ON THE STAGE
”Master of
the gym!”
Events
TUE 19/8, 26/8 and 2/9 at
5.30 p.m. Free lessons in partner dances at Viaporintori
in Sello. No previous experience or advance registration
required. Bring a partner or
come alone. TUE 19/8 Bugg,
TUE 26/8 Rhumba, and TUE
2/9 Waltz. kaupunkitanssit.fi.
THU 21/8 from 7 p.m. to 9
p.m. Factory Dance. Music by a
live orchestra after the museums have closed their doors.
Part of the Night of the Arts
programme. Free entry. WeeGee.
FRI 22/8 to 31/8. Espoo Ciné.
Tapiola and Leppävaara celebrate the art of film. The festival features more than 100
films. A special programme
for children and young people.
espoocine.fi
FRI 29/8 at 8 p.m. Nopsajalka.
Reggae with influences from
R&B, pop, soul and blues. 1 hr
15 min, no intermission. Tickets: from EUR 17.50, Lippupiste.
EUR 18 at the door. Cloakroom:
EUR 2. Sello Hall.
SAT 30/8 from 6 p.m. to 9
p.m. Dinner under the Tapiola Sky. Accompanied by the
Polytech Salon Orchestra.
Pack a picnic basket. Advance
registration required. More
info: weegee.fi. WeeGee.
ESPOO LIVE! 6/9
strict exercise
regime, Musta Barbaari is one of the
main acts of ESPOO LIVE! in 2014.
The buff rapper has risen to fame
rapidly. Released in August 2013,
his debut single has nearly 3.5 million views on YouTube.
As always, the event also features promising performers from
Espoo and established artists,
including Salonen&Kosola, Fullmoon Silhouette, Pit Messiah and
Skyes. The master of ceremonies
is Axl Smith of Music Television
and The Voice of Finland fame. The
event offers a non-stop stream of
performances.
The event has free admission
and no age limit. It will be organised at Otahalli on Saturday, 6
September from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
KNOWN FOR HIS
The purpose is to offer everyone,
including minors, an opportunity to
enjoy live music at a major event.
to the concert, young
people can try various sports and
hobbies with professional instructors. They can try dancing, musical instruments, sumo wrestling,
trampolining, basketball and
much more at the multipurpose
hall, ball sports hall and dance
hall.
Wristbands entitling the holder
to admission will be delivered at
schools after the beginning of the
school year on 12 August. n MIKAELA
IN ADDITION
KATRO
Programme and tickets:
facebook.com/espoolive
3 events on
Espoo Day,
Sat 30/8
n Festival 4 Kids
The Serena Pop & Rock Festival 4
Kids is a new event for the whole
family. Free entry. From 10 a.m. to
2 p.m. at Serena Waterpark.
n Dance
A dance accompanied by the
Polytech Salon Orchestra. Light
classical music. Waltz, tango,
foxtrot and schottische. From 2
p.m. to 3 p.m., Sello Shopping
Centre.
n Music from films
A free concert with music
from Finnish and Nordic films,
performed by Tapiola Sinfonietta.
From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tapiola Hall,
Cultural Centre.
SUN 31/8 at 7 p.m. Winterreise. A work composed by
Franz Schubert in 1827. The
concert is part of the Helsinki
Festival programme. Tickets:
from EUR 37.50/22.50, Lippupalvelu. Cloakroom: EUR 2.
Sello Hall.
WED 3/9 and THU 4/9 at 7
p.m. Hämeenlinna Theatre/
Ritva Oksanen: Actress. Ritva
Oksanen’s anniversary performance takes a look at the work
and roles of an actress over
the past 50 years. Louhi Hall.
THU 4/9 to 4/12 at 12 noon to
12.30 p.m. Pram date. A special
event for families with children
on the first Thursday of the
month. Intended for adults, the
programme is baby-friendly.
Free entry. KAMU.
More events:
www.espoo.fi/
tapahtumat
ESPOO MAGAZINE 3/2014
» 19
» www.espoo.fi
» facebook.com/espoonkaupunki
» twitter.com/EspooEsbo
A CITY AT YOUR SERVICE
PHOTO TUIRE RUOKOSALO
» youtube.com/EspooEsbo
ESPOO DAY IN
ISO VASIKKASAARI
ON 30 AUGUST
Something for the whole family from 12
noon to 3 p.m. Activities, demonstrations
and a dance on the pier. Free transport
to the island. Organised by City of Espoo
Sports Services and Youth Services with
partners.
ARCHIPELAGO TRANSPORT TIMETABLES:
» www.espoo.fi/fi-FI/Kulttuuri_ja_liikunta/
Liikunta/Saaristoliikenne
ADVISORY SERVICES
FOR SENIORS
ESPOO IS THE FIRST
LIFESAVER CITY
Have moved from North Tapiola to Matinkylä.
The new address is Nelikkokuja 3 (next to the
Iso Omena shopping centre), tel. (09) 8163 0265.
» www.espoo.fi » In English » Social and
Health Services » For Elderly
The City of Espoo and the Finnish Red Cross have
launched a project to encourage Espoo residents to
donate blood regularly. City employees have been invited to establish blood donation teams, which can also
be started by groups of students, colleagues or people
sharing a hobby.
“We want to make Espoo even more human and
helpful while also strengthening a sense of community. Any one of us may need donated blood some day.
I invite everyone to contribute,” says Mayor Jukka
Mäkelä. You can donate blood at the Iso Omena shopping centre on weekdays and at the Sello shopping
centre once a month, for example. » www.veripalvelu.fi
GUIDED TOURS
FOR SENIORS
At the Sello shopping centre on Mondays, 1/9 to
12/12, from 9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. The tours start
from the square inside Sello, next to the stage. The
first tour of each month is followed by a presentation
about services for senior citizens in Espoo. Free of
charge. More information: advisory services for senior citizens and www.espoo.fi/elinvoimaaikaantyville.
APPLY FOR SOCIAL AND
HEALTH-CARE SUBSIDIES
The application period runs from 15/9 until
3.45 p.m. on 14/11/2014. » www.espoo.fi
OPEN DOORS DAY
AT FIRE STATIONS
ON 30/8 FROM 12
NOON TO 3 P.M.
COMPILED BY ONA SARJANEN
Come and learn more about rescue
vehicles and employees.
» www.lup.fi
The following fire stations will be
open to the public:
• Espoonlahti (Rehtorintie 2)
• Leppävaara (Portinvartijantie 1)
• Niittykumpu (Niittyportti 1)
• Mikkelä (Espoontie 4)