• Thinking About the Future

    Advance Planning Among Immigrants in Finland

  • Dear Participant,

    My name is Hao Yu, and I am a Master's student at Aalto University. I am researching how service design can assist immigrants in Finland with preparing for unexpected life events (like severe injury, illness, or death), to make sure their preferences are respected when they cannot make decisions for themselves. Your perspective as an immigrant in Finland is crucial to this study, and this questionnaire aims to gather thoughts and experiences on this topic. It should take approximately 20 minutes to complete, though this may vary based on your thoughts and experiences. The survey will be collected on 18th April 2025.

    Thank you for taking the time to share your insights!

     

    Hao-Yu Ho
    hao-yu.ho@aalto.fi
    School of Arts, Design and Architecture
    Aalto University

  • Consent information

    Your participation is completely voluntary, and all responses will remain anonymous and confidential. The data will be securely stored and accessible only to me and my supervising professor. After the study is completed and the research is published, all collected data will be permanently deleted within six months. By submitting your answers, you confirm your voluntary participation in this study.

  • Part 1. Demographic questions

  • End-of-Life (EOL) / Advance planning explaination

    In this study, "End-of-Life (EOL) planning" or "Advance Planning" refers to various activities and tools that help ensure your wishes are respected when you can no longer make decisions yourself. To help you better respond to the following questions, here are some common preparations for your reference.

    Healthcare and Medical Decisions:

    • Advance Care Planning (ACP), which lets you document your medical treatment preferences in case you become seriously ill or unable to communicate your wishes.
    • Organ donation, ensuring your wishes about donating organs or tissues are known in advance.

    Financial and Estate Planning: 

    • Writing a will to decide who will receive your money and belongings after you pass away.
    • Setting up trusts to manage assets and arranging insurance for financial security.
    • Organizing bank accounts and taxes to make things easier for your loved ones.

    Other Considerations:

    • funeral arrangements, such as burial or cremation.
    • Appoint someone with Power of Attorney (POA) to make legal or financial decisions on your behalf.
    • Choosing an executor to handle your affairs after your death.
    • Managing digital assets, such as social media accounts and online property, is also an important aspect of modern end-of-life planning.

    Discussing death may be sensitive in some cultures. This study respects all perspectives, whether or not you have made end-of-life plans. If you have made plans with similar intentions that are not listed above, please feel free to share and explain them. Your input is highly valuable to this research.

  • Part 2. Sentence completion

    Please complete the sentences below to reflect your thoughts. There are no wrong answers, so feel free to respond quickly without overthinking. There is no word limit for responses.

  • 2-1. On a scale of 1 to 5, I would rate my self-esteem as

  • 2-2. Regarding the topic of death, my attitude is*

  • 2-3. When I think about my own death, I see* as meaningful because*

  • 2-4. At the same time, I worry about* because*

  • These questions aim to understand your overall perspective on death, including both positive and negative thoughts about it. You can write your first reaction or the most important thoughts and feelings you have, along with a brief explanation.

    For example, I (as a researcher) find this topic interesting but also somewhat serious. It helps me reflect on the meaning of life since time is limited and unpredictable. However, I also feel uneasy about its uncertainty, as no one knows what will happen.

    Feel free to write your own answers!

  • 2-5. If I were to prepare for my own advance planning, I would prioritize because

  • 2-6. For my loved ones, I would prioritize preparing because

  • These questions aim to explore which preparations you find most important for yourself and your loved ones. You can refer to the introduction in the beginning section for common actions and events.

    For example, I think making an advance care plan (ACP) is really important because I want my wishes to be clear if I ever can’t make decisions myself. For others, I think creating a will with a financial or legacy plan can help ease the burden on my family.

    Feel free to write your own version!

     

  • Part 3. Detail answer Questions

    The purpose of this section is to gather your thoughts and perspectives on death and related preparations for it while living abroad. Your responses will provide valuable insights for this research, and your detailed answers are greatly appreciated.

  • 3-1. Could you describe your thoughts on death and how they have changed over time, especially after moving to Finland?

    • Have there been any key moments, experiences, or cultural differences that have shaped your perspective? if so, please describe them.
    • If your thoughts or views have changed, how might these changes affect (or not affect) the way you think about or approach preparing for death/ unexpected events?
    • If you have any additional thoughts or experiences regarding how your views on death have changed (or not changed), please feel free to share them.
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