Leena Forma points out inequalities in access to services for older people

What are your main research interests?

I was first interested in the use of services by older people in the very last years and months of life. Since then, I have broadened my research to include the costs of services, and I aim to consider all costs, including those paid by the service users themselves.

At present, I am studying the relationship between income and care of older people. I look at whether there are differences between income groups in service use when the people in question have similar needs for care.

I have conducted register-based research for a long time. It provides a clear view to the entire population and people’s service use.

I now want to expand my research to approaches that bring out people’s experiences and preferences, for example, using interview data. 

What makes your research significant?

My research produces knowledge that can be used to develop services that better meet the needs of older people.

Previous research has shown that people in a lower socio-economic position tend to have greater needs for services than those who are better off. Yet our findings suggest that the use of some services is still lower among the low-income groups. People with low incomes may not necessarily gain access to exactly the services they need the most. 

I want to produce evidence to support decision-making. If it becomes clear that low-income groups are not gaining access to services, research can support evidence-based policies and decisions to address the situation.

Where do you draw inspiration for your work as a professor?

It must be curiosity! Even if a researcher has hypotheses, you can never know what the data will ultimately reveal in advance. We often discover findings that are genuinely fascinating and sometimes even surprising. What is challenging, however, is getting to grips with why this is the case and how people behave. What mechanisms underlie the service use patterns?

A researcher never conducts the exact same study twice, and there is always something new to explore or new methods to apply.

Photo: Jonne Renvall/Tampereen yliopisto

How do you intend to develop health economics at Tampere University?

I will continue my health economics research on ageing. Research in gerontology is strong at our unit, so I think that collaboration with gerontologists is important. 

I am also conducting nutrition-related research together with researchers in nutrition and environmental sciences. We study how better adherence to dietary guidelines would promote health, be ecologically sustainable and make sense moneywise. We assess the savings that could be achieved in social and health services if morbidity decreased through healthier diets. We also examine productivity costs; to what extent reduced morbidity resulting from healthy eating would decrease absences from work or disability pensions. 

One of my main themes is economic evaluation. This includes cost-effectiveness analyses, such as in the case of a nutrition intervention carried out at daycare centres. I conduct this research together with, for example, researchers from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology. 

What do you do in your free time?

I relax by exercising. Running is especially important to me; previously trail running and now orienteering. As a family, we spend time outdoors and play board games. 

I also take part in a literature circle and a group known as the knitting circle. Reading and handicrafts are combined with shared discussions in these activities. 
 

Welcome to the inaugural lectures of the new professors on 11 May 2026