Heli Valokivi

Heli Valokivi is a Full Professor of Social Work at the University of Jyväskylä, a position she has held since 2019. Prior to this, she worked as a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at Tampere University and as an Acting Professor at the University of Lapland. She holds a Docent title in Gerontological Social Work from 2015 and is a registered social worker with Valvira. As head of the social work unit in the Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, her work bridges academic leadership with practical social work.

Her research focuses on the intersection of social work, gerontology, and social policy. Key areas include:

• Ageing policy and eHealth
• Care civilization and digitalization
• Service user experiences in elder care
• Home care and social rehabilitation
• Robot literacy in care homes
• Equity in remote rural care

Heli’s recent publications address robot literacy, media engagement, and policy challenges for older adults, reflecting her leadership in projects like MediaRoboLit 65+ (Research Council of Finland, 2023–2027) and Katve-hanke (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, 2026–2027). Her work often explores how digital technologies reshape care landscapes, particularly in Arctic and rural regions.

Heli is affiliated with prominent research networks:

• CoE AgeCare (Centre of Excellence in Research on Ageing and Care, 2018–2025)
• Ageing and Gender in the Arctic
• CARPO (Care Policy)
• GEREC (Gerontology Research Center)
• GoE AgeCare (Gender and Ageing in Care)