Hanna Varjakoski

I currently work as a postdoctoral researcher in the DRIVEX project at the University of Eastern Finland. My background is in the Humanities, and I received my PhD in Media Studies in the University of Turku, Finland. In my dissertation, I examined the Finnish media landscape of the 2000s and what it produces and challenges as regards cultural imageries and understandings of ageing, older individuals and later life. The study focused on analyzing age representations on social media, popular fiction film and selected TV-makeover shows, with a gender sensitive approach.

My research interests are in the field of cultural gerontology, in particular, and I have worked as a researcher in projects investigating remote home care and the digitalization of public health care services (HAIDI research project), Covid-19 pandemic experiences of the oldest old (CAIDE85+), and older adults’ neighbour relations and age diversity in the neighborhood. I am a board member of KaVa ry (the Finnish association of researchers on growth and aging).

I teach in courses that address questions related to cultural ageing, media, digitalization and health.