EMPOWERCARE

Common challenge

The 2 Seas area is facing a common problem – rising demand for health and social care services by our growing older population – creating a pressing need to find new approaches. In 2013 the over 65s made up 18.2% of the European population; 19.4% in France, 18.6% in Belgium, 18.7% in the Netherlands and 18.2 % in the UK. These figures are set to rise to a staggering 28.7% on average by 2080. With the cost of care for older people increasing it is necessary to integrate these groups more closely with their communities, keeping them healthier and in their own homes safely for longer. The challenge facing the 2 Seas area is that we will run out of resources if we don’t change the ways citizens are involved in their own health and wellbeing. Traditional services are already at capacity and the present system pushes people to the default point of safety (hospital).

Overall objective

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.

Cross border approach

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