EMPOWERCARE
EMPOWERing individuals & communities to manage their own CARE
Priority Axis
Technological and Social InnovationSpecific objective
Social Innovation
Lead partner
The Health and Europe CentreContact
Start Date
01/01/2020End Date
31/03/2023Project budget
6 836 395 €ERDF amount
4 101 837 €ERDF rate
60%About
Common challenge
The 2 Seas area faces a common problem - rising demand for health and social care services by a growing older population - creating a pressing need to find new approaches.
In 2013, the over 65s made up 18.2% of the European population; 19.4% in France, 18.6% in Belgium, 18.7% in the Netherlands and 18.2 % in the UK. These figures are set to rise to a staggering 28.7% on average by 2080. With the cost of care for older people increasing, it is necessary to integrate these groups more closely with their communities, keeping them healthier and in their own homes safely for longer.
The challenge Empowercare tackled is related to the fact that the 2 Seas area will run out of resources if we don’t change the ways citizens are involved in their own health and wellbeing. Traditional services are already at capacity and the present system pushes people to the default point of safety (hospital).
Overall objective
Main outputs
Cross border approach
Main Achievements
EMPOWERCARE launched at end January 2020, but Covid-19 meant no further in-person meetings were possible for over 2 years. From 2021 there was accelerated progress, with enthusiastic engagement at pilot sites getting ready to steer the EMPOWERCARE Strategy. Stakeholders and end-user groups were worked with to identify needs and preferences, and technologies were procured for testing and piloting began. An Annual Event was held online over two days, with workshops, tech demos and plenaries, which was very successful in disseminating project achievements to a significant number of participants. The peer support training programme began its pilot. An innovative animated video was created to promote the project. Evaluation work was highly productive.
2022 and early 2023 saw all key elements of the project finalised, tested, refined, formalised and embedded; and the whole project was evaluated fully.
The preliminary results were shared in a well-attended Final Conference in January 2023, and the legacy is available for public view & use on the project webpages.
The Strategy reached over 10000 policymakers, professionals, and service users. The Workforce Development package benefitted over 4500 staff, and delivery partners continue to use it after the project end date.
The Technology Blueprint reached over 7000 professionals and service users. It continues to be available and in use in teaching.
The Evaluation has engaged and/or been made available to over 12000 policy makers and professionals, a number that will grow over the coming years, notably as some themes are pursued in other projects, both EU-funded and otherwise.
Testimonial
By having the market café open, it gives people the opportunity to meet and to see one another. We’ve noticed that it’s become a regular thing in their lives, their weekly chance to meet each other.
Sofie Vanmarcke, Projectcoördinator Empowercare, Provincie Antwerpen