Senior exercise could save Tampere €17.3m annually, calculator finds

A new calculator shows Tampere could save €17.3m annually if 20 percent of inactive seniors over 65 increase activity to health guidelines, according to Tamperelainen

Developed by the Age Institute in cooperation with Sosped Center, the tool accounts for nine key diseases and injuries where exercise has a proven preventive effect, highlighting its potential to benefit public finances as well as individual wellbeing. In the press release, the institute’s executive director Katja Borodulin says, "We are excited about the calculator that can concretely demonstrate the significance of exercise for older people's health and wellbeing. It reinforces how important prevention of diseases and injuries is from both societal and individual perspectives." The paper notes that the calculator helps make visible the economic impact of boosting elderly activity, not only for individuals but for communities as a whole.

The calculator is designed for use by municipalities and welfare regions to estimate the economic effects of increasing physical activity among older residents, illustrating how better health can translate into public-cost savings and broader societal benefits, according to Tamperelainen.