Arjenhallinnan

Arjenhallinnan, literally “everyday life management,” is a concept used in Finnish social and healthcare contexts to describe the skills, processes, and supports that enable a person to organize and carry out daily activities in a way that maintains independence and well-being. It encompasses routines, decision making, resource use, and participation in social life.

The concept covers planning and prioritizing tasks, budgeting, housing and household management, personal care, health and medication management, transportation, and communication with services. It also emphasizes social participation, leisure, work or study, and the use of assistive technologies. It is applied across life stages and in various conditions, including disability, aging, and mental health.

In practice, arjenhallinnan is addressed through assessment of needs and strengths, person-centered goal setting, and interventions by occupational therapists, social workers, educators, and healthcare professionals. Techniques may include coaching, problem solving, routines structuring, environmental modifications, and activation of support networks. The aim is to enhance autonomy, reduce burdens on families, and improve quality of life.

The term is commonly used in Finnish welfare discourse and rehabilitation programs, and while it shares overlap with concepts like self-management, activities of daily living, and independent living, arjenhallinnan emphasizes everyday life management as an integrated competence rather than a set of isolated skills.

Critics note that the breadth of the concept can hinder specific measurement and targeted interventions, and that cultural and individual differences require careful tailoring of supports.