Minna Kaarakainen

Minna Kaarakainen is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Eastern Finland, affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies and the Department of Health and Social Management. She also serves as a Visiting Researcher and Docent/Adjunct Professor (social and health management). Her roles include leading projects like SustAgeable: Economic and social sustainability across time and space in an ageing society (2021–2027) and contributing to the House of Effectiveness research group.

• PhD, Registered Nurse (RN)
• Research focus: health and social management, aging societies, caregiver psychology, health policy, and equity in elderly care.
• Recent work examines medication dispenser technologies, caregiver role strain, and contractual care models for older adults.

Her research synthesizes health outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and caregiver experiences, with findings indicating moderate evidence of improved systolic/diastolic blood pressure and HbA1C levels through dispenser devices, though broader impacts on quality of life and equity remain limited.

Key collaborations include co-authoring with Marjo Ring, Virva Hyttinen-Huotari, and Mieke Rijken. Her work has been supported by the Strategic Research Council at the Academy of Finland under the SustAgeable project (no. 345385).