Senior Health Clinic Study

Turku Senior Health Clinic study The Turku Senior Health Clinic Study was targeted to 75-year-old citizens with an underlying idea that at that age it would be almost the last moment to nudge people towards healthy lifestyle and taking care of their health and functional ability to maintain independent living. The short-term aims of the Turku Senior Health Clinic Study are to survey health and functional statuses and prevalence of specified risk factors for CVDs, dementia, frailty, and functional decline of 75-year-old independently home-dwelling citizens of the city of Turku. The aims also include assessment the frequency of follow-up treatments needed, and recommendations given for lifestyle changes and evidence-based drug treatment, as well as fulfillment of these recommendations. Also, participants feedback on the Turku Senior Health Clinic will be assessed. In addition, based on the results, recommendation for the content and implementation of preventive health clinic targeted to older people will be provided. The long-term aim of the research project is to assess the effects of the Turku Senior Health Clinic on the need of institutional care and home care as well as the cost-effectiveness of the clinic during the 10-year follow-up. For this purpose, participants of the Senior Health Clinic Study will be compared to that of non-participants and earlier cohorts of 75-year-olds in terms of the use of home care and institutional care.

Interview, clinical examination and health education conducted by the clinic nurse. Appointment with the physiotherapist including the assessment of physical functioning, use of assistive mobility devices, and amount of help needed in activities of daily living.

Use of the municipal home care and institutional care among participant, non-participants and earlier cohorts from local registers.