The project aimed to strengthen person-centred, diversity-sensitive care by (1) co-creating and piloting an interactive training package (~30–40 hours/≈1.5 ECTS) for Bachelor and Master students in health and social care programmes, and educators in social and healthcare professions (e.g. social work, nursing, medical education, allied professions); (2) building and testing a multi-language Open Educational Resource (OER) to support self-paced learning by health and social care professionals and students across Europe; and (3) developing key policy recommendations based on participatory workshops. The project aimed to engage at least 100 learners and reach a broader network of over 500 stakeholders, ensuring relevance, uptake, and potential for long-term impact in health and social care education and practice.
The project was initiated in response to the growing need for equitable, person-centred care in increasing multicultural societies across Europe. Despite policy frameworks promoting equal access, research from across Europe highlights that health and social care systems remain poorly equipped to meet the complex needs of older people with migrant backgrounds and their families. Health and social care professionals often lack training in how to best deliver culturally competent care, and students report acquiring awareness through informal means rather than structured education. Older people with migrant backgrounds and their families express a desire to maintain their cultural identity in care, yet services are rarely adapted to support this. Diversity-sensitive care was perceived as challenging by professionals, and barriers to access persist. The project addressed these gaps by developing flexible, relevant training models (as deemed by older people with migrant backgrounds, health and social care professionals, and students), open educational resources, and policy briefs that promote a diverse-sensitive understanding and adaptability, leading to improved care practices among health and social care professionals in Europe.