Kela

Kela’s task is to take care of the basic security of persons belonging to Finnish social security in various life situations. Social security covers both Finns living in Finland and abroad. Kela also actively develops social security.

I myself receive medical reimbursement for medicines prescribed by prescription to treat my illness. Kela has reimbursed part of the costs when I have visited a private doctor due to illness. One of our children receives child benefit and the other receives study grant. University of applied sciences and university students pay the healthcare fee to Kela. In addition to myself, this also applies to my wife and daughter.

I have a European Health Insurance Card and it is always with me when I travel abroad. I haven’t needed it once. I also have separate travel insurance for each of my trips.

OmaKanta

You can view your health data in OmaKanta. Social welfare service data will also gradually be made available in OmaKanta. You can also request a prescription renewal or save a living will in the system. You can log in to OmaKanta using your online banking credentials, for example. In OmaKanta you can read treatment-related records, request a prescription renewal, check the results of laboratory tests and X-ray examinations, gradually access social welfare service data, save your living will and organ donation testament, browse your wellbeing data and obtain a digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate.

KEVA

My retirement age has not been confirmed, but at the moment it looks like I will be able to retire at 66 at the earliest. If I retire at age 70, my pension would be 31% higher per month.

Digital shops

I have used e.g. booking.com and trivago when I’ve been looking for options for a holiday trip. I have booked trips through the above-mentioned sites and everything has always worked flawlessly.

I went to ebay. There is really a lot to choose from and too much for my taste. I want to find what I’m looking for quickly and easily. Looking at it quickly, the price level is reasonable, but after transport fees and possible taxes and customs fees, the price level is probably the same level or more expensive than in Finland. Of course, there is a selection for every taste. I just can’t surf such sites for very long. For the reasons mentioned above, I do not use online stores such as eBay or Amazon. Returning products is also boring and I don’t want to do it. On Ebay, trust between seller and buyer is important. I myself would not very easily do business, at least with large sums, with a stranger on the other side of the world.

Mielenterveystalo

Mielenterveystalo.fi is an excellent service. There you will find information about mental well-being and strengthening it, as well as challenges related to mental health and different life situations, divided by theme. The pages are easy to use and I have used the site with my own patients. I recommend everyone to check out the mielenterveystalo.fi. There you can find information and help for many challenges and situations in life.

Digitalization and digital gap

The digital gap makes people unequal and in Finland is especially a challenge for the elderly. Managing things has moved online and not everyone has the opportunity and know-how to manage their various things digitally. Digital divides can increase the threat of exclusion from working life and society, make it difficult to find employment, weaken work well-being and make it difficult in many different ways to manage people’s everyday affairs.

The Digital Competence Test

Self evaluation

I use digital services every day, as probably most of us do. My digital skills are at a reasonable level. Of course, they have a lot to improve. On the other hand, I am eager and willing to learn new things, but sometimes also lazy. I easily chose the things I want to develop further. I expect ease of use and security from digital services. I trust familiar and well-known sites and services. For example, I don’t use a service that I don’t know about in advance. I try to find out about user experiences before working in a digital service that is foreign to me.

Digitization has made our lives easier in many different ways. Maybe too much? For example, ordering food at home is everyday and easy. I don’t really use such services myself. When I’m not cooking myself, I’d rather go out to eat than order unhealthy fast food at home. Making things too easy for us humans may not always be a good thing. Digitalization gives people the opportunity to stay at home and get services from there. Especially for those struggling with mental health, this is basically not a good thing. I think digitization is a good thing and I hope it produces more good than bad. However, we must not be blind and gullible when it comes to digitization.

This assignment helped me stop at the topic (digitalization) and think about my own digital skills and its development.

Blogs I commented:

blogi.savonia.fi/kaisakuuppo

Hi!
I myself have never heard of the website (vapaaehtoistyö.fi) you mentioned before. It is gratifying to see concretely how digitalization can help in doing good. There is researched information that volunteering can also help in managing your own mental health. Helping others is also good for yourself. In my own work at the psychiatry outpatient clinic, I plan to use the website you mentioned whenever possible.

blogi.savonia.fi/pauliinaspage/digi-citizen

Hi!

You share your opinion about the Omaolo service in your blog. I also got to know the service and had a health checkup there. The health check is of course indicative, but it can make you understand if something in your life needs to change. I think such services are good and will certainly become more common in the future. All kinds of activities that promote the health and well-being of citizens are welcome. Sometimes the danger can be that people diagnose and monitor themselves too much. And this in itself can undermine your own health.

blogi,savonia.fi/jaanasiermala

I myself have also thought up to what point does digitization and technological development increase or does it increase our overall well-being? Digitization certainly brings help and relief in many ways to our lives, but where is the point after which it no longer brings any new good, but on the contrary, its disadvantages may be greater than the benefits? People should stare more at the nature around us and its beauty than at their smart devices.