In order to create resilient communities and reduce individual frailty and loneliness, EMPOWERCARE will develop a holistic community asset approach using research-based solutions to respond to current gaps in the care of people in the target group (those ages 65+ and those aged 50+ with at least one chronic condition). EMPOWERCARE will address the issues facing our societies concerning the care of our ageing population; older people are not being involved in decisions concerning their own health and wellbeing. In combining the work of a number of existing and tested partner solutions from across the 2 Seas area the project will ensure that older people are at the forefront of improved technology and better care for within their communities. This will not only improve their situation but also tackle the financial issues of an ageing population and improve social cohesion, and implement a community of practice dedicated to the problem at hand.

EMPOWERCARE will take a holistic approach, with 3 areas of activity: Empowerment, Technology Strategies & Workforce Development resources. These will contribute to a person-centred approach to care and technology knowledge transfer whilst reducing isolation/loneliness and increasing solidarity amongst older people. Community Asset Based Development approaches will get to the heart of what matters most to local communities by harnessing skills and expertise of local people, co-creating innovations that make a real difference to lives, health and wellbeing. The project will oppose a medical deficit model and instead focus on empowering people to take more responsibility for their care using technology and local services to keep them in work, healthy and motivated, having control over decisions that affect their health and wellbeing. Learning networks will enhance shared learning amongst professionals and families to ensure durability and transferability.

A cross-border approach allows different but compatible approaches, bringing them together to provide stronger cocreation. The countries in the 2 Seas area are at different stages of a comparable journey, together we can understand more of the journey, and the different routes we have taken/could take in the future. Each part of the 2 Seas area has one or more established concepts from which others can learn. The problem of an ageing population and ensuring the wellbeing of older people via a financially and socially sustainable model is prominent in all four countries. Cross-border learning will allow partners to combine their expertise in different areas to ensure a holistic approach. EMPOWERCARE combines partners with expertise in: health technology, social cohesion solutions, and integrated workforce approaches, and local organisations with appropriate access to the target population