The main objective of the Care4You project was to improve the training and professionalisation of carers of dependent people through the creation of the new professional profile of “Co-Therapeutic Assistant”. A new professional profile that is key in the care of people with neurodegenerative diseases. Through the development of an innovative training curriculum, the aim was to provide future professionals with specialised skills in the use of methodologies such as comprehensive person-centred care, in advanced methodologies such as immersive virtual reality, and to promote a comprehensive approach to care. Another key objective was to promote deinstitutionalisation and independent living models, aligned with the European Care Plan. To this end, the project promoted the dissemination of good practices and knowledge through a Good Practice Guide, seminars for educators and students, and training courses on the new model of community care. In addition, Care4You sought to strengthen transnational cooperation between training centres and entities in the social and health sector, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and innovative methodologies.
The member entities of the consortium detected a series of shortcomings in the training of caregivers of people with Alzheimer's or other dementias that had an impact on the quality of care and attention provided to these people. The training curricula of the professional training cycles for Care for People in Situations of Dependency and Nursing Assistant, and the courses for unemployed people in the sector did not have specific content that provided students with the skills and competencies necessary to care for people with Alzheimer's. The professionalization of care for the benefit of people in situations of dependency is one of the main missions of the 3 partner entities, so creating a professional figure of Co-therapist Assistant became the shared objective that drove the launch of the Care4you project. This led to identifying more needs, such as the importance of using innovative practices in care and attention. The lack of good practice guides on key methodologies and resources and the limited transmission of knowledge between different entities.