With over thirty years of experience in the healthcare field as a nurse, manager, developer, LEAN coach, researcher, and author on healthcare practices, I am dedicated to developing quality care for the elderly and individuals with neurocognitive disorders (NCD) [Dementia]. In all my work, I adhere to a people-oriented philosophy.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:
Program Director (Jan 2024- Present)
Responsibilities include:
– Developing the Hovi program content
– Refining the concept to ensure easy deployment
– Ensuring that the units adhere to the concept practices
– Generating turnover from Hovi Academy sales
Project Manager and Lean coach (June 2018 –October 2019)
City of Espoo, Nestori Guidance and Service Counseling for Senior Citizens
Client Manager (August 2016 –May 2018)
City of Espoo, Nestori Guidance and Service Counselling for Senior Citizens
Service Manager (November 2015 –August 2016)
City of Espoo, Soukan palvelutalo
Service Supervisor (November 2014 –November 2015)
City of Espoo, Taavin muistipalvelukeskus
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy (2024) University of Turku – Faculty of Humanities, School of History, Culture and Arts Studies, Department of Cultural History
Master of arts (2009) University of Turku – Major subject: Cultural History. Minor subjects: Social Policy, Media and Communication studies, Human, Health and Culture Program
Diamond leadership (2019)
City of Espoo
Management -team leadership training
Lean coach in Social and Health Care (2018) HUS Lean Academy
Creative Reminiscence Trainer (2013)
Citizen´s Forum
Specialist Nurse, Pediatric Nurse (1990)
Health care college of the city of Turku
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
Social and Health Sector Development Act Award (Dec 2022)
– Innovation: Walking with the handbook through the care pathway for people with neurocognitive disorders (dementia)
– I was Editor in Chief of the awarded book.
– Award issued by Kuntatyö 2030, the Municipal and Wellbeing Area Employers KT and the main negotiating organizations of the municipal sector.
Lean Act of the Year 2021 2nd Prize (Oct 2022)
– Prize Issued by the Finnish Lean Association
– Development project of the City of Espoo, Health and Wellbeing sector for the service path for people with dementia. The award justification stated: ‘A pioneering work that utilized Lean methods and involved a wide range of stakeholders to develop a comprehensive and seamless Memory Path for the smooth care of people with dementia and support for their families.’
– I served as the project manager for the Memory Path project, a Lean coach, and the client manager for people with dementia.
– Prize Issued by the Finnish Lean Association.
Honorable Mention in the Mayor’s Innovation Competition (Jan 2022) – Innovation: Hand in Hand on the Memory Path – A Handbook for Developing the Service Path for Memory-Impaired Individuals. The handbook supports the safe and functional life of individuals with memory impairments. It helps in developing the overall service path and care practices, as well as ensuring professional memory care expertise.
– I was Editor in Chief of the awarded book.
– Issued by the City of Espoo, Mayor.
Memory Act of the Year (Oct 2020) – Recognition award to the editorial board of the book ‘Treatment of Memory Disorders’ published by Duodecim.
– I was one of the editors of the book.
– Issued by The Finnish Memory Experts Association (SUMU).
PUBLICATIONS AND ARTICLES
Thesis
”Muistisairaan aika ja toimijuus. Sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon ammattilaisten käsitysten muotoutuminen 1980–2020”. Turun yliopisto, kulttuurihistoria. Väitöstutkimus 2024. Muistisairaan vierellä. Muistisairaan ihmisen ajallisuus ja toimijuus suomalaisten sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon ammattilaisten määrittelemänä 1980-luvulta 2020-luvulle – UTUPub
Verellä merkityt. Kuukautiskokemuksen kulttuurinen rakentuminen suomalaisten, vuosina 1959-1977 syntyneiden naisten kuukautiselämäkerroissa. Turun yliopisto, kulttuurihistorian pro gradu 2009. https://oa.doria.fi/handle/10024/47612
EDITED COLLECTIONS
Muistisairaan hoidon hyvät käytännöt. Toim. Merja Hallikainen, Annikka Immonen, Maiju Jämsä, Sanna Kotisaari, Riitta Mönkäre & Pirkko Pihlakari. Helsinki: Kustannus Oy Duodecim (tulossa 2024).
Yhtä matkaa muistipolulla. Muistisairaan palvelupolun kehittämisen käsikirja. Toim. Annikka Immonen & Maarit Väärälä. Espoo: Espoon kaupunki. https://www.espoo.fi/palvelut/muistineuvonta#section-19407
Muistisairaan hoito. Toim. Merja Hallikainen, Annikka Immonen, Pirkko Pihlakari, Riitta Mönkäre. Helsinki: Kustannus Oy Duodecim 2019.
Elämänpolun risteyksessä – aineisto eläkkeelle siirtymisen tueksi. Toim. Annikka Immonen & Marjaana Kanerva. Helsinki: Seurakuntaopisto, 2015.
Rovaniemi, Turku, Bysantti ja Oulu… Juhlakirja Marja Tuomiselle. Toim. Mervi Autti, Annikka Immonen, Kari Immonen, Maija Mäkikalli & Pälvi Rantala. Rovaniemi: Lapin yliopistokustannus, 2013.
PEER-REVIEWED SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES
Finger-toimintamallin arvio. Hammar, Teija, Immonen, Annikka & Jokinen, Sari. Helsinki: Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos (tulossa 2023).
Ajatuksia historiasta sukupuolentutkimuksen kentällä. Ilana Aalto, Marjo Kaartinen, Annikka Konola (Immonen), Anu Lahtinen, Maarit Leskelä-Kärki & Kirsi Tuohela. Naistutkimus 1/2011, 44–49.
NON-PEER-REVIEWED SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES
Ihan parasta ikää kaikki. Teoksessa Työ ja henki. Avaimia henkiseen ja hengelliseen työhyvinvointiin. Toim. Marjaana Kanerva & Juha Tanska. Helsinki: Kirjapaja 2015, 173–184.
Eläkkeelle – muistoista voimaa elämän siirtymävaiheeseen -toimintamallin kuvaus. Gerontologia 4/2014, 259–265.
Welcome to our Brain Health Series This article is part of a 9-part series based on insights from the report “Memory and Brain Health” published by ETNIMU. Each article explores a unique aspect of memory function, factors influencing brain health, and strategies to enhance cognitive well-being. Whether you’re looking to understand memory disorders, learn how […]
Welcome to our Brain Health Series This article is part of a 9-part series based on insights from the report “Memory and Brain Health” published by ETNIMU. Each article explores a unique aspect of memory function, factors influencing brain health, and strategies to enhance cognitive well-being. Whether you’re looking to understand memory disorders, learn how […]
Welcome to our Brain Health Series This article is part of a 9-part series based on insights from the report “Memory and Brain Health” published by ETNIMU. Each article explores a unique aspect of memory function, factors influencing brain health, and strategies to enhance cognitive well-being. Whether you’re looking to understand memory disorders, learn how […]
Welcome to our Brain Health Series This article is part of a 9-part series based on insights from the report “Memory and Brain Health” published by ETNIMU. Each article explores a unique aspect of memory function, factors influencing brain health, and strategies to enhance cognitive well-being. Whether you’re looking to understand memory disorders, learn how […]
Welcome to our Brain Health Series This article is part of a 9-part series based on insights from the report “Memory and Brain Health” published by ETNIMU. Each article explores a unique aspect of memory function, factors influencing brain health, and strategies to enhance cognitive well-being. Whether you’re looking to understand memory disorders, learn how […]
Welcome to our Brain Health Series This article is part of a 9-part series based on insights from the report “Memory and Brain Health” published by ETNIMU. Each article explores a unique aspect of memory function, factors influencing brain health, and strategies to enhance cognitive well-being. Whether you’re looking to understand memory disorders, learn how […]
Welcome to our Brain Health Series This article is part of a 9-part series based on insights from the report “Memory and Brain Health” published by ETNIMU. Each article explores a unique aspect of memory function, factors influencing brain health, and strategies to enhance cognitive well-being. Whether you’re looking to understand memory disorders, learn how […]
Welcome to our Brain Health Series This article is part of a 9-part series based on insights from the report “Memory and Brain Health” published by ETNIMU. Each article explores a unique aspect of memory function, factors influencing brain health, and strategies to enhance cognitive well-being. Whether you’re looking to understand memory disorders, learn how […]
This is an article in Hovi Care’s series of 10 articles with the topic: 10 Wishes for Caregiver. The keys to success when working with a person with memory disorders are both very easy but challenging. Everything starts with the person’s situation and his/her abilities. In this series of articles, we’ll help you make the […]
This is an article in Hovi Care’s series of 10 articles with the topic: 10 Wishes for Caregiver. The keys to success when working with a person with memory disorders are both very easy but challenging. Everything starts with the person’s situation and his/her abilities. In this series of articles, we’ll help you make the […]
This is an article in Hovi Care’s series of 10 articles with the topic: 10 Wishes for Caregiver. The keys to success when working with a person with memory disorders are both very easy but challenging. Everything starts with the person’s situation and his/her abilities. In this series of articles, we’ll help you make the […]
This is an article in Hovi Care’s series of 10 articles with the topic: 10 Wishes for Caregiver. The keys to success when working with a person with memory disorders are both very easy but challenging. Everything starts with the person’s situation and his/her abilities. In this series of articles, we’ll help you make the […]
This is an article in Hovi Care’s series of 10 articles with the topic: 10 Wishes for Caregiver. The keys to success when working with a person with memory disorders are both very easy but challenging. Everything starts with the person’s situation and his/her abilities. In this series of articles, we’ll help you make the […]
This is an article in Hovi Care’s series of 10 articles with the topic: 10 Wishes for Caregiver. The keys to success when working with a person with memory disorders are both very easy but challenging. Everything starts with the person’s situation and his/her abilities. In this series of articles, we’ll help you make the […]
This is an article in Hovi Care’s series of 10 articles with the topic: 10 Wishes for Caregiver. The keys to success when working with a person with memory disorders are both very easy but challenging. Everything starts with the person’s situation and his/her abilities. In this series of articles, we’ll help you make the […]
This is an article in Hovi Care’s series of 10 articles with the topic: 10 Wishes for Caregiver. The keys to success when working with a person with memory disorders are both very easy but challenging. Everything starts with the person’s situation and his/her abilities. In this series of articles, we’ll help you make the […]
This is an article in Hovi Care’s series of 10 articles with the topic: 10 Wishes for Caregiver. The keys to success when working with a person with memory disorders are both very easy but challenging. Everything starts with the person’s situation and his/her abilities. In this series of articles, we’ll help you make the […]
This is an article in Hovi Care’s series of 10 articles with the topic: 10 Wishes for Caregiver. The keys to success when working with a person with memory disorders are both very easy but challenging. Everything starts with the person’s situation and his/her abilities. In this series of articles, we’ll help you make the […]
Imagine sitting at the kitchen table, sipping your morning coffee, when your loved one suddenly forgets where they are. It’s a heart-wrenching moment, isn’t it? Early-stage Alzheimer’s can be a challenging journey, not just for those diagnosed but for their families too. But fear not, there are ways to navigate this path with compassion and […]
Understanding the Needs of People with Dementia Imagine walking into a room and not recognising where you are or why you’re there. This is a daily reality for many people living with dementia (PLWD). Understanding their needs is the first step in creating dementia-friendly environments. It’s not just about safety; it’s about fostering a sense […]
Why I Chose Hovi Care When the frost hit Finland (-20°C), I began working as a program director in Hovi Care. The initial meetings with my Singaporean and Balinese colleagues brought warmth to my home office. Hovi Care genuinely provided me with a safe and welcoming environment. With over thirty years in the healthcare field […]
