DIGI CITIZEN
Kela Services in Our Family
Kela (The Social Insurance Institution of Finland) secures the basic income for people living in Finland and offers a wide range of benefits and services for different life situations. People who reside permanently in Finland are entitled to Kela services. These include support in social security, disability, family benefits, and rehabilitation.
In our family, we receive child benefit from Kela for our two underage children. This is a tax-free support and one of the most well-known and commonly used Kela services.
Kela offers a broad selection of benefits, such as national pension, unemployment security, parental allowances, housing benefits, and study grants. Kela also provides various forms of support in case of illness or rehabilitation needs.
It is easy to manage matters with Kela through the OmaKela online service, where users can check their entitlements, submit applications, and track their status. Services are also available by phone, and Kela provides support in Finnish, Swedish, and English—with interpreting services available when needed. The Kela website offers materials in many different languages, including plain language formats. Kela is truly a valuable support system in many life situations.
I have also ordered a European Health Insurance Card for each family member. We took them with us on a trip to Gran Canaria, even though we also had travel insurance.
I am familiar with the My Kanta (OmaKanta) system, which I use to access my health information. After logging in securely with my bank credentials, I can select which health records I want to view and from what time period. The system also allows me to request prescription renewals when I have regular medications.
I also checked my pension estimate on the KEVA website. If I were to retire early at the age of 63, I would receive only €417 per month. However, if I retire at 68, my monthly pension would be slightly over €1200. It seems that I will need to keep working for as long as I can, as I previously worked as an entrepreneur and did not have the means to pay higher pension contributions.
Digital Services from a Consumer Perspective
I explored international online stores such as Amazon and eBay and compared product prices to Finnish brick-and-mortar and online stores. For example, prices for electronics and home appliances may be lower abroad, but shipping fees and customs charges often raise the final cost. The authenticity of products—especially on eBay—can also be a concern. I have heard that Amazon is generally more reliable, but it’s always important for consumers to review seller details and ratings.
In comparison, the Finnish online store Verkkokauppa.com is clear and easy to navigate, and customer service is available in Finnish. Using international platforms requires more initiative and critical thinking from consumers.
Dgital Health Services – Terveyskylä
From the healthcare perspective, I chose to focus on Terveyskylä (Health Village), a public and free online service developed by healthcare professionals together with users. It provides reliable, evidence-based information on a variety of health topics and is intended for both citizens and professionals.
Terveyskylä is especially suitable for managing chronic conditions, supporting lifestyle changes, and monitoring personal well-being. It complements traditional healthcare by promoting health and supporting self-care. The service is always available online with just an internet connection and a smart device. I believe there is excellent information presented in a user-friendly format. Hopefully, better ways can be found to ensure that this valuable information reaches those who could benefit most from it.
Terveyskylä has three main sections:
Terveyskylä Houses: Open access websites without login requirements
Omapolku: A personalized digital care path
TerveyskyläPRO: A professional portal for continuous learning and competence development
I personally have used TerveyskyläPRO, especially for consultations in specialized care, where appointments can be booked through the platform. The site is continuously updated and supported by a broad collaboration network, including HUS (Helsinki University Hospital), multiple wellbeing services counties, universities, and patient organizations. It supports both academic study and learning at work – and demonstrates how digitalization can improve access to information and the quality of care.
Digitalization and the Digital Divide – Opportunity or Obstacle?
Digitalization makes everyday tasks easier, but it also brings challenges. Not everyone has digital skills, the necessary devices, or access to online services – and they can easily be left out of essential services.
Poor digital skills can also increase cybersecurity risks, and digital inequality is particularly evident among the elderly, immigrants, people with disabilities, and those in weaker social positions. For example, people who only handle their banking in person often pay more for services than those who manage them online. In healthcare, digital services require the ability to authenticate, read digital messages, and use various applications – otherwise, there’s a risk of missing out on necessary care or support.
It is important to develop digital services to be accessible. At the same time, there should be alternatives and support available for those who need help using them. Digitalization can bring efficiency and new opportunities to working life – but only if everyone is included.
According to the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, there are three types of digital divides:
Usage divide – not everyone uses digital tools in their work
Usage skills divide – not everyone has the skills to use technology effectively
Benefit divide – some benefit from digitalization in their careers, while others see their position weaken
These divides can lead to social exclusion, decreased well-being at work, and difficulty keeping up in a rapidly changing society. That’s why it is essential to invest in support, training, and accessibility – so that digitalization becomes an opportunity for everyone, not a barrier.
Digital Competence and Its Importance in Everyday Life
I completed the Digital Competence Test, which assessed my ability to use and understand various digital skills. The test helped me better understand my strengths and areas for improvement in digital competence. It measured skills in four key areas: information retrieval, communication, production, and security. The goal was to gain an overall picture of my digital competence, and the results gave me insight into my strengths and the areas where I can still improve. Of course, I had a preliminary idea of my skills, and the test confirmed that while also encouraging me to think more deeply about the subject.
My Strengths in Digital Competence
According to the test, I have strong skills especially in the following areas:
Independent Use of Services: I am used to utilizing digital self-service solutions, such as making appointments and managing payments online. This is a skill that makes everyday life easier and saves time since I can handle many tasks without contacting customer service.
Identity Management and Data Security: I understand the importance of protecting my personal information online. I know how to adjust privacy settings and what information is appropriate to share publicly. This is particularly important in today’s world, where our digital footprint can significantly affect our lives.
Collaboration and Digital Teamwork: I use various digital collaboration tools, such as email and cloud services, in teamwork. I can communicate clearly and effectively with different stakeholders, which is important both in working life and other contexts.
Areas for Improvement
Although the test results showed that I am strong in some areas, it also highlighted skills I could develop further. Some aspects of the test were completely unfamiliar to me, and I can honestly say that I didn’t understand them at all:
Content Creation and Sharing: While I already produce various types of digital content, such as text, images, and videos, I would like to diversify these skills. For example, I could explore different software tools to create more visually engaging tasks and edit work-related materials.
Utilizing Automation: At the moment, I have no idea how programming and automation could benefit my work. Starting from simple website creation, I could learn how digital tools can automate routine tasks.
Data Protection and Legislation: Although I know the basics of data protection and copyright, I want to deepen my understanding, especially in ensuring that all digital material I publish or receive is legal and safe.
Learning Experience and Future Goals
I found the digital skills test easy but relatively heavy to complete. It helped me assess my competence and identify areas for development. There are also many things I have done routinely without thinking about whether they are safe or the correct way to proceed. I often try things boldly, even if I don’t have the knowledge or skills. Digital competence is one of the most important skills needed in both working life and everyday life today. At the end of the test, I received a complete overview of my skills and a large number of suggestions on how to improve them. For now, I am relatively satisfied with my current level. Occasionally, I find myself in situations where better skills would be helpful, but I’ve noticed that with a bit of courage and experimentation, I can get surprisingly far – as long as that courage doesn’t compromise data security.
The constant evolution of technology brings new challenges and opportunities, so it’s important to stay up to date and develop one’s skills. Young people are “born with a smartphone in hand,” unlike me, who has lived through an enormous digital transformation.
In the future, I’m happy to continue developing my skills, particularly in the areas of automation and data protection.
The test results and the self-assessment they prompted are a good reminder of the importance of continuous learning and personal development in the digital world. Digital competence is useful in work, daily life, and improves overall quality of life.
The test gave me a clear picture of the direction in which I want to develop my skills. I now better understand how important it is to recognize one’s strengths and weaknesses in digital skills and how to use digital tools effectively and safely. The test made me realize that the development of digital matters is ongoing, and because of that, we must continuously improve our skills to keep up with new phenomena. Adopting new technologies and digital tools is essential not only for personal growth but also to maintain our societal competitiveness and prepare for future challenges and change.
I have commented on these blog posts: