EU-27 citizens > 65 years will be about 103.2 millions and > 80 years will be 29.3 millions in year 2020 (DG ECFIN /Ageing Report 2012) Mobility is defined as the ability of an individual to purposively move about her environment. Mobility limitations, or Reduced Mobility, are impairments in movement and affect between one third and one half of adults age 65 or older. Mobility is an important predictor of Quality of Life (QoL) among Elder Persons and a measure of successful aging (www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197457217302057). Assistive Technologies (ATs) offers products, resources, methods, strategies, practices and services that promote the functionality of Persons with Reduced Mobility, aiming at their autonomy, independence, QoL and social inclusion. Its development and deployment can be considered an attempt to neutralize the barriers caused by the Reduced Mobility and related disability (Assistive technology and its relationship to the quality of life of people with disabilities. Rev Ter Ocup Univ São Paulo. 2017 Jan.-Apr.;28(1):54-62.) ERMAT is launched with the main objective of increasing the competences (attitudes, knowledge, skills) of Elder Persons with Reduced mobility, Informal Caregivers and Professionals on the application of Assistive Technologies for improving their Quality of Life. Specific objectives: - To promote sense of self-care and care supported by ATs - To inform about available ATs and their application to the specific needs of EPRM - Create awareness and trust about the importance and possibilities of using ATs for improving QoL of EPRM, increasing their autonomy and community participation. - To create digital and technological skills, which allow EPRM and supports to properly exploit ATs - To create an e-learning environment that could facilitate the access of EPRM to the training contents - To involve Informal Caregivers, Professionals and other Elder Persons as Peer-Supports that will support those EPRM that are not able to directly attend to the training activities. Through the execution of this Project the next results will be obtained; - Co-Created Methodological Guide (I.O.1) will be developed, involving the direct participation of End Users, with the main objective of determining the key contents, methodologies and tools needed for creating and improving the critical competences of Elder Persons with Reduced Mobility (EPRM), Informal Caregivers and Professionals on how to apply Assistive Technologies (ATs) for improving their Quality of Life (QoL) - Training Materials (I.O.2) addressed to EPRM, Informal Caregivers and Professionals on how to apply Assistive Technologies (ATs) for improving their Quality of Life (QoL) - Designed Practical Training Activities (I.O.3); They will be the core of the Training Program and they will include the design of Face-to-Face and Online Sessions and will be based on Group Dynamics and, specially, Practical Activities, to be implemented with the common participation of EPRM, informal caregivers and professionals where they will be directly trained in how to exploit available ATs for improving their mobility and QoL through putting into practice methods and tools during the Training Activities, both in institutions and homes - Development of an e-Training Platform (I.O.4), for supporting the implementation of the Training Methodology, including Training Materials, Workspace and link to applicable ICT/Assistive Technologies Tools. - Creation of 7 SUPPORT UNITS in the members of the Consortium in order to ensure the sustainable exploitation of the project after the project lifetime. - Implementation of 6 Multiplier Events on the application of Assistive Technologies for improving the Quality of Life of EPRM on each country addressed to stakeholders that could multiply the impact of the project - Development of Dissemination Actions addressed to the European collective related to Elder Persons. VALIDATION PILOT ACTIONS will be implemented involving 120 persons (20 in Romania, Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Germany and Greece) including EPRM, Informal Caregivers and Professionals for validation of the project results. Impact of Validation Actions during project lifetime In the short term, the project will increase the competences of 120 persons, including Elder Persons with Reduced Mobility (EPRM), Informal Caregivers and Professionals (20 in Romania, Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Germany and Greece) through their participation in the validation actions of Training Materials, Designed Practical Training Activities and e-Training Platform. Impact of Dissemination Actions during project lifetime In the short term 3.000 Elder Persons with Reduced Mobility (EPRM), Informal Caregivers and Professionals (500 in Romania, Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Germany and Greece) will be aware, through multiplier events and dissemination actions to be carried on through the project website, newsletters, leaflets, etc…
Reduced Mobility is caused by impairments in movement which affect not only the ability to move from one place to the other but the ability to move the entire body freely and normally. Mobility is an important predictor of Quality of Life (QoL) among and a measure of successful aging. ATs offer products, resources, methods, strategies, practices and services that support Persons with Reduced Mobility in attaining autonomy, independence, QoL and social inclusion. Their development and usage can reduce and even neutralize the barriers caused by the Reduced Mobility. In this context, the ERMAT project was launched with the main objective of increasing the competences (attitudes, knowledge, skills) of Elder Persons with Reduced Mobility (EPRM), Informal Caregivers and Professionals on the application of Assistive Technologies for improving their QoL. Specific objectives: (1) inform about available ATs and their application to the specific needs of EPRM; (2) create awareness and trust for using ATs for improving QoL; (3) promote sense of self care and care supported by ATs; (4) create an e-learning environment to improve digital skills and access for EPRM and supports to properly exploit ATs; (5) adopt a user-centered approach.
The European population is ageing and tends to live longer and independently which requires them to have a good quality of life in their daily environment. This represents one of the socio-political priorities in Europe and worldwide. While Europeans are generally living longer lives, many face multiple health conditions or mobility problems. Relatively high rates of chronic illness, mental health conditions, disability and frailty may be reduced if structural, economic and social drivers of poor health are tackled at an early stage. According to EUROSTAT [1], almost one third of people aged 75 years or more have severe difficulties in walking and almost half report difficulties with at least one personal care or household activity.Thus, it is not surprising that analysts suggest that the aging population will likely exert downward pressure on economic growth due to a significant increase in the old-age dependency ratio. Policy makers respond by converting this challenge into an opportunity by investing in preventative care, rehabilitation, age-friendly environments and assistive technologies (ATs). [1] https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Disability_statistics_-_elderly_needs_for_help_or_assistance