"In nursing work, clothing must not be tight or constricting"

A new way of thinking about care is being implemented in the Norlandia service block in Tuusula. The modern approach is also visible and felt in the workwear. The outfit is complemented by a handy accessory bag, a smart kangaroo bag for care professionals.

Norlandia's Together service block brings together those who are taking their first steps in life and those who are spending their evening years. The block houses a children's daycare center, a nursing home for the elderly, a service center, and a dog daycare center. The meeting of generations is at the heart of the community activities.

People of different ages meet in the courtyard of the block

In the courtyard of the wooden block, children are allowed to come and go, the gate between the kindergarten courtyard and the courtyard for the elderly is open. It is fun for children to visit and watch the lives of older people.

You can visit the doggy daycare staff in the outdoor play area to greet them. Sometimes the dogs pop in to cheer up the residents of the care home. The presence of animals is good. A speechless person with dementia may find words again when petting a dog.

The garden's sensory garden features traditional plants and flowers that can be touched and sniffed without any worries. They stimulate the senses and can bring back memories from childhood.

"We want to bring services for the elderly from the shadows to the center of life. The developer of the property is talking about the Block of Wishes. It's an apt name: we want to respond to what research has shown that older people want from their housing," says Mira Ruusunen, director of the Norlandia Together unit.

Antimicrobial protection of fabrics is important

The collaboration between Norlandia and Medanta began when Norlandia wanted a new way of thinking about care to be reflected in modern, casual and functional workwear. Medanta's Care collection was attractive due to its flexible, dirt-repellent microfiber material and its antimicrobial protection.

"Care work is done in all possible positions. The workwear must stretch, it must not tighten or pinch anywhere. It is also important that the surface of the workwear prevents the growth of microbes. We work a lot with clients whose immune defenses may be weakened," Ruusunen describes.

At the Norlandia Together unit, the unisex workwear for the care staff includes trousers, a half-sleeved shirt and a hoodie-style jacket. The chosen colour is blue-grey, which does not show dirt and against which Norlandia's fresh apple green brand colour is beautifully repeated.

A handy accessory bag is part of the work outfit

The special feature of the workwear is a shoulder bag designed for Norlandia, where important items are immediately within reach and safe from falling. It comes with a bottle of hand sanitizer, disposable gloves, work keys and a phone.

The accessory bag is like a care professional's own kangaroo pouch – spacious, convenient and on the go.
It sits close to the body and is out of the way when you are near the patient. The bag is easy to put on and take off, for example when washing the client.

Nice work clothes are a way to appreciate employees

Medanta's workwear has received good feedback from employees. Flexible material is important in a job where you squat many times a day and move a lot.

"When I started at Norlandia, I immediately thought that this would be nice and functional workwear. The fabrics really stand out from the thick, inelastic material. I've worn tight and uncomfortable workwear elsewhere," says nursing student Taru Niemi .

The drawstring waist of the trousers is not tight, and the elasticated waistband prevents the trousers from slipping under the heels. The shirt has zippered side pockets, which prevent items from falling out even when bending over. The workwear is also praised for its ability to work well in damp environments.

“Our work clothes feel good against the skin, and I like their color. They don't sweat and don't absorb moisture when washing the client,” says nurse Daria Krainova .

Taru Niemi and Daria Krainova feel that the employer clearly values ​​its employees when it invests in high-quality workwear and listens to their wishes. For the summer, employees have asked for a short-sleeved T-shirt. Short-legged, capri-style work trousers have also been suggested. More pockets have been needed for the winter jacket.

"The wishes have been heard and some of them are already being promoted. We have considered a bright green top as an alternative to the gray shirt. It is great that we can develop Norlandia's workwear collection even better together with Medanta," says Ruusunen.

The clothes come out of the laundry wrinkled.

In the care sector, workwear must withstand frequent washing at high temperatures. At Norlandia, there are over a thousand pieces of workwear in the wash-and-wear cycle, including accessory bags. Work shirts are changed daily and trousers a few times a week or as needed.

"Our work clothes are washed at Medanta's laundry. They arrive back in laundry bags, neat and wrinkle-free. Our people don't have to think about ironing, they can immediately put on clean and tidy clothes," Ruusunen says with pride.

Norlandia Together

• Location: Tuusula Puustellinmetsä

• Special: a communal, intergenerational approach to care.
• Established: the daycare center started operations in July 2020, the care unit opened its doors to residents in March 2021.
• Client locations: nursing home 25, service center 20, daycare center 84, doggy daycare center 10.
• Staff: care unit 48, daycare 9.
• At work: childminders, kindergarten teachers, care assistants, home and nursing assistants, physiotherapists, dog walkers, home care workers and kitchen staff.