21 October 2025
The wellbeing services county of Ostrobothnia swiftly seized the opportunity to implement RAIsoft.net Self-Assessment as part of a major transformation project. In just over a year, Ostrobothnia transitioned to a unified system and adopted the latest RAI tools, culminating in the launch of RAIsoft.net Self-Assessment.
When RAI expert Ann-Sofie Larsson, who led the transformation project in the wellbeing services county, first heard about RAIsoft.net Self-Assessment, she immediately recognized its potential:
“It provides data that cannot be obtained from anywhere else. This isn’t just a matter for the wellbeing services county, the data is crucial for municipalities to deliver the necessary services.”
The elderly individuals using the self-assessment are still outside the service system, and the information they provide about their own resources and needs is exactly what municipalities and wellbeing services counties need to develop impactful services. This supports independent living among the elderly and delays the need for more intensive services.
“Now services can be developed based on genuine needs expressed by the elderly themselves. Loneliness, for example, is often discussed, but its causes may remain unclear. It could be a need for better public transport or regular activities to help people get out and find companionship.”
Larsson has kept a firm grip on the project and cheerfully notes that despite the fast pace, the project has also been fun:
“Successful project execution requires at least one person to have a comprehensive overview. I didn’t need to know everything myself, but it’s important to find the right people and spark interest, then things move forward. You don’t always find the ‘right person’ immediately, but you will if you ask and search.”
Karoliina Hagström, who led the project on behalf of Vitec Raisoft, agrees. She emphasizes the importance of resources and patience in advancing a large-scale initiative step by step:
“Demanding transformation processes and implementations can’t be successfully carried out alongside everything else, they require sufficient time and resources, and you shouldn’t try to do too many things at once.”
Larsson and Hagström both acknowledge that there were moments of pressure to “step on the gas,” but they kept a cool head. Projects often bring surprises, and the best way to prepare is to ensure the schedule isn’t too tight.
“There have been hectic moments, but we’ve maintained a calm working environment and a clear direction. Collaboration has been easy,” they say, praising each other.
“And the project management tracking sheet was excellent! It was a great way to monitor progress and identify the next task. It really supported our work,” Larsson adds.
Having a comprehensive overview is also crucial when trying to keep all stakeholders engaged and aligned toward a shared goal:
“I’ve been able to continuously communicate with leadership about where we’re headed, what we’ve achieved, and what’s needed next!”
Communication must not be overlooked. Effective methods and channels are needed to inform both elderly individuals and their families about the new service. In Ostrobothnia, RAIsoft.net Self-Assessment has been part of the marketing and communication plan from the start, with efforts made to reach the elderly.
Larsson admits that rolling out a completely new type of RAI assessment has its challenges and says the project manager must know what they want and sometimes be assertive:
“We’ve created a small brochure distributed at senior events. We often demonstrate the assessment in person. Information about RAIsoft.net Self-Assessment is shown on health clinic info screens, presented to senior councils, and a social media campaign is coming. Everything is bilingual!” Larsson lists, adding that she has personally trained professionals on how to use the data from the self-assessment.
“I’ve worked with service coordinators, senior clinic staff, memory nurses, and home rehabilitation teams to explain how to interpret and use the self-assessment data, how to search for information, and how to look ahead. The goal is to support them in adopting the self-assessment and its data as a tool in their work.”
Some feedback has already been received, and Hagström encourages collecting and forwarding all of it to Vitec Raisoft:
“We are the technical implementer, and interRAI Finland is responsible for the content. So, we can’t change a question that’s perceived as difficult, for example, but we always forward all feedback for review. It really matters in the development of the assessment tool, even if changes come slowly.”
RAIsoft.net Self-Assessment was launched in Ostrobothnia in late summer 2025, so user experience is still limited, but the start has been promising, and expectations are high. Progress has been consistently positive, emphasizing the achievable benefits.
“The goal is to get as many elderly people outside the service system as possible to complete the RAIsoft.net Self-Assessment.”
Depending on their preference, individuals can keep the results for themselves, but hopefully many will allow the data to be shared with their wellbeing services county. That way, the information can truly be used to develop services, support prevention, and promote elderly wellbeing.
In just over a year, Ostrobothnia has made a huge leap, from four separate systems and outdated tools to a unified system, new interRAI tools, and the adoption of RAIsoft.net Self-Assessment.
“Now we have the opportunity to further develop the use of RAI. We’ve taken a big step forward in data-driven decision-making,” says Ann-Sofie Larsson with satisfaction.
