Thousands march across Finland demanding better elderly care

Demonstrations calling for improved elderly care took place in at least 36 locations across Finland on Friday, as the Rollaattorimarssi (Walker March) movement expanded beyond its origins in Tampere, public broadcaster Yle reports.

The protests, organised by volunteers and described as non-partisan, aimed to amplify the voices of older people while highlighting concerns over the quality and availability of elderly services. In Helsinki alone, organisers estimated around 3,000 participants, with roughly 200 joining in Rovaniemi.

Outi Mäenpää, founder of the march and executive director of the Pirkanmaa Memory Association, cited inconsistent care standards and cuts to 24-hour services as key issues. She warned that planned government reductions in social and healthcare funding would disproportionately affect preventive care, increasing reliance on more costly interventions later.

“The need for round-the-clock care will grow in the coming years as the elderly population increases,” Mäenpää said, criticising proposals to further reduce such services. Demonstrators in Tampere, Helsinki, and Lahti—where the event was held for the first time—shared personal motivations for joining the marches.

Alongside advocacy for dignity in ageing, participants expressed frustration over systemic failures in elderly care, including difficulties accessing continuous support. The marches sought to reframe ageing as a diverse experience while pressing for policy changes.