
I am a social scientist interested in issues related to ageing and later life. Currently I work as an Associate Professor in Social Work at the Department of Social Sciences. My work includes work with research projects and teaching around questions related to social gerontology and gerontological social work. At the moment I am leading a four-year research project on old-age social inclusion in home care (SOLDEX) funded by the Research Counsil of Finland, and a workpackage on digital health technologies and services of older adults (75+) as part of a Nordic collaboration project (HAIDI). In addition, I am involved in several multidisciplinary programs and networks.
In my PhD I examined loneliness from a life course perspective identifying different pathways behind loneliness in later life and exploring how loneliness changes in time. I have also examined experiences of loneliness from the perspective of people living with aphasia and older migrant women. My studies have highlighted the multidimensional and dynamic nature of loneliness and its individual meanings in relation to different life events and transitions. In my studies I have used mostly qualitative methodologies, but I’m interested in finding ways to combine different methods, especially from longitudinal perspectives.
Research groups
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Ageing and elder care research group
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The neighboring networks of the older city dwelle… Finished 01.03.2020 - 31.12.2022
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Interprofessional interaction in professional pro…
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Neuro-Ethics and Law Research Team 01.08.2020 -
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Social work research and education team 01.08.2023 -
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House of Effectiveness 01.11.2018 -
Projects
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CAIDE - Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia Finished 01.01.1998 - 31.12.2022
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Demography and Democracy – Healthy Ageing in a Digital World (HAIDI) 22.08.2022 - 21.08.2025
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GERIT - gerontological social work and complex needs of older adults Finished 01.01.2021 - 31.12.2022
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Improving the effectiveness of well-being and health of older people in Kainuu Finished 02.01.2021 - 31.08.2022
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Neuro-Innovation 01.05.2021 - 30.04.2026
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PROMEQ Finished 01.08.2016 - 31.12.2021
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Old-age social exclusion in home care - prevalence, meanings & intervention (SOLDEX) 01.09.2021 - 31.08.2025
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Shadows in Paradise? Rights of People with Dementia in a Welfare State 01.01.2022 - 31.05.2032
Publications
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Age Diversity in Neighborhoods—A Mixed-Methods Approach Examining Older Residents and Community Wellbeing
Varjakoski, Hanna; Koponen, Samuli; Kouvo, Antti; Tiilikainen, Elisa. 2023. International journal of environmental research and public health. 20: -
Gerontologisen sosiaalityön osaamista tarvitaan - tuloksia GERIT-hankkeesta
Kinni, Riitta-Liisa; Rossi, Eeva; Zechner, Minna; Tiilikainen, Elisa; Seppänen, Marjaana; Skaffari, Pia; Soukiala, Tiina; Ruotsalainen, Suvi; Peiponen, Jenna; Pietilä, Ilkka; Niemi, Mia; Korpelainen, Anne. 2023. Gerontologia. 37: 281-288 -
Ikääntyneiden ryhmätoiminnan taloudellinen arviointi ja vaikutukset osallisuuteen
Ruuskanen, Anna-Maria; Ristolainen, Hanna; Tiilikainen, Elisa; Topo, Päivi; Kankaanpää, Eila. 2023. Gerontologia. 37: 36-52 -
Narratives of long-term loneliness: case study of two older men
Tiilikainen, Elisa. Teoksessa: Willis, Paul; Pietilä, Ilkka; Seppänen, Marjaana(toim.) , 2023. Ageing, Men and Social Relations: New Perspectives on Masculinities and Men’s Social Connections in Later Life. s. 188-201. Policy press -
Process evaluation of a complex group-based intervention for older adults living alone
Ristolainen, Hanna; Tiilikainen, Elisa; Kannasoja, Sirpa; Rissanen, Sari. 2023. Educational gerontology. [Epub ahead of print 18 Sep 2023]: 1-17 -
Pyörivää kehää ja pallottelua - tuen tarpeisiin vastaamisen haasteet ikääntyneiden asiakas- ja palveluohjauksessa
Peiponen, Jenna; Tiilikainen, Elisa; Kinni, Riitta-Liisa. 2023. Focus localis. 51: 26–42 -
Transition to Retirement for Older People with Intellectual Disabilities —Staff Descriptions of the Process and Roles
Granö, Sirpa; Miettinen, Sonja; Tiilikainen, Elisa; Kontu, Elina. 2023. Scandinavian journal of disability research. 25: 65-77 -
Gerontologinen sosiaalityö etsii paikkaansa muuttuvassa palvelujärjestelmässä
Rossi, Eeva; Zechner, Minna; Tiilikainen, Elisa; Pietilä, Ilkka; Seppänen, Marjaana; Kinni, Riitta-Liisa; Skaffari, Pia; Ruotsalainen, Suvi; Soukiala, Tiina; Hirvonen, Jenna; Niemi, Mia; Korpelainen, Anne. 2022. Yhteiskuntapolitiikka. 87: 579-584 -
Ikääntyvät miehet paikallisyhteisössä
Tiilikainen, Elisa; Ojala, Hanna; Pietilä, Ilkka; Seppänen, Marjaana. Teoksessa: Kinnunen, Anna; Könönen, Maija; Vakimo, Sinikka(toim.) , 2022. Babuškoja, teräsvaareja ja digisenioreita : Muuttuva vanhuus Suomessa ja Venäjällä. s. 175-187. Gaudeamus -
Integrative learning through the interdisciplinary Social Law Clinic — learning experiences of law and social work students
Kekoni, Taru; Kainulainen, Anni; Tiilikainen, Elisa; Mäki-Petäjä-Leinonen, Anna; Mönkkönen, Kaarina; Vanjusov, Heidi. 2022. Social work education. [Published online: 22 Jul 2022]: 1-15