Research project A research project exploring what healthy ageing means to older Sámi people and how language, culture and relationships can strengthen health and care through co-created solutions.
The project explores how older Sámi define healthy ageing and the role of language, culture and social networks in promoting health and security. Through sharing circles, interviews, survey analyses and co-creation workshops, new knowledge and a prototype digital support tool are developed to strengthen older Sámi people’s health, participation and encounters with care services.
Why this project?
The Sámi are Europe’s only recognized Indigenous people, and older Sámi often describe language, culture, social relations and connection to nature as fundamental to health and well-being. Yet many experience barriers in elder care, including limited cultural understanding and lack of Sámi language support. Swedish research rarely reflects how older Sámi themselves define healthy ageing or what resources matter most in daily life. This project addresses these gaps while contributing to international Indigenous ageing research.
What we study
The project explores what healthy ageing means to older Sámi and how social networks, culture and language shape health and security in later life. Experiences of relatives and care staff in both formal and informal care are also examined. A key focus is to identify strengths, needs and challenges in care encounters and to develop culturally safe approaches that support meaningful ageing across different welfare and care contexts.
How we work together
Using sharing circles, interviews, survey data from the SámiHET study, and co-creation workshops, the project combines Indigenous knowledge with other research methods. It is carried out in close collaboration with the Sámi elder group in Ubmeje and involves elders, care users, relatives and care staff. Through co-design workshops, participants and researchers jointly develop and test a prototype digital support tool grounded in Sámi social, cultural and linguistic resources.
International collaboration and outcomes
This project is one of three research nodes within the Nordic collaboration Promoting Healthy Aging of Sámi and Inuit Elders Through Co-Designed Digital Health Tool, together with partners in Norway and Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland). Cross-country collaboration enables comparative analyses and shared learning across Indigenous contexts. Results will inform elder care practice, education and policy, and contribute to Nordic and international efforts to promote culturally grounded, sustainable healthy ageing.
