On 1 July, at the occasion of the Reference Sites Award Ceremony 32 cities and regions across Europe have been rewarded for new ways of helping older people. These award-winners have been implementing innovative technological, social or organisational solutions to enhance the efficiency of health and social care systems, and have been presented with awards from European Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes, responsible for the Digital Agenda.
Star winners came from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands and the UK. 13 Reference Sites have received three stars, 12 two stars and 7 one star. All these different sites are an inspiring reference point for the application of innovative and workable solutions enabling older citizens to live a healthy and active life.
The Commission’s Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing have constituted six categories of innovation: medication adherence, fall prevention, frailty and malnutrition, integrated care, independent living and age-friendly environments. eHealth Innovation partners contributed actively to “Integrated care”, “Medication adherence” and “Independent living” and . have been in contact or collaborating in projects with some of the award winning Reference Sites such as:
Agreement on collaboration between health sectors based on digital technologies, aiming at higher quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction, and better collaboration between all health and social care players in the Region.
The Institute provides services for blind and visually impaired people of all ages in education, rehabilitation, social and labour integration, recovery and development of skills.
Care Site online platform “Zorgcirkels” (Circles of Care) initiative
The University of Coimbra, together with the other members of the consortium “Ageing@Coimbra” supports a holistic ecosystem of stakeholders and it implements innovative practices to manage cognitive ageing, dementia, vision impairment, human kinetics and mobility.
Andalusian e-Health Strategy (AeHS), Andalusian Strategy on Active Ageing (ASAA)
Basque Strategy for the chronic conditions, Extean Ondo pilot project
TicSalut/InnohealthHub Catalunya, NEXES project, MECASS project
Welsh Government Strategy for Older People in Wales 2003-23
National Telecare Development programme, SPARRA risk prediction tool, National Falls Programme
Links to further information: