Background and method
An increasing older population asks for an ergonomic effort in order to handle the challenges of the future.
Ageing European population
According to Eurostat data in 2018, 19% of the EU-28 population was aged 65+. EU-28 population will continue ageing from 2018 to 2080. As the population structure shifts European countries will face two challenges:
1) the cost of supporting older people will rise, and
2) the health care workers will be insufficient to support those in need of help. This scenario highlights the need for solutions able to reduce costs, to lower the workload of health care workers (both professional public servants and private ones) and to offer effective assistance to older adults.
The need of the project
An example is that older people with impaired physical function, need help in order to get from e.g. their bed to their wheelchair. The health care workers are the providers of this service, characterized to be a physically demanding job. As a result, many of the health care workers are suffering from back pain, attrition or even work injuries. At the same time, difficulties recruiting health care workers are occurring. Improving health care workers education and work environment, will make the job more attractive.
The objectives in the project are to:
- extent and develop the competences of educators and others who teach adult health care workers
- increase transferability from training/classroom to everyday work
- focus on the safety and rehabilitative approach for the patient in the transfer situation
- develop new digital tools and methods for teaching safe transfer techniques
- develop a Peer Learning model
- implement assisted living technology to reduce work injuries
- create a hosted and maintained website (during and beyond the end of the project) for free access to the developed tools, guidelines and models in the project
Description of activities
The project is activity based and the activities, such as: analysis, design, development, testing, implementing etc. will lead to the results of the project. Other activities will be dissemination events e.g. a multiplier event in each partner country as well as one transnational learning/teaching/training activity.
Methodology to be used in carrying out the project
The project will use a participatory methodology with focus on co-creation, co-working, user involvement, user-centered design, peer reviews and person-centered care.
Results and impacts envisaged
The results will be: Guideline and Toolkit of safe transfer techniques, Digital tools (virtual reality and e-learning program), interactive handbook of peer learning and Open Educational Resource.
The impacts envisaged are that teachers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and nurses are enabled to use new methods and digital tools in teaching and spreading best practice of safe transfer techniques. As well as developing and providing free accessible digital tools for the professional health care workers to deliver person centered care and training.
Potential longer-term benefits
The overall goal is a long-term effect to reduce attrition and work injuries, to improve education and work environment in the health care sector and to ensure the safety and rehabilitation of patients.