Exchange of best practices
Sometimes you have an idea that you work out and implement in practice. It turns out that it this idea is a great improvement with a great impact on the quality of life of those we care for or on to make the work processes more efficient and effective.Or you have a great idea but do not know how to work this out and how to implement it.
By sharing your improvements or ideas on the ECREAS website you will create an opportunity to help your colleagues in implementing their ideas or your colleagues can help you out with their experiences.
ECREAS exchanging best practices around four themes (see read more):
- Quality in ageing services (incl. elderly care)
- Elderly care workforce
- Technology
- Living environments
Quality in ageing services (elderly care)
The definition, interpretation and application of the concept of quality is an ongoing concern of housing and services providers of elderly care. What are perspectives on quality, how is quality controlled and what are by academic research validated quality measurement instruments that can be applied in ageing services?
EAN members signal an urgent need to identify, group and make accessible accurate information and results from applied research in the field of housing and services for older people.
Elderly care workforce
Recruitment, training & education and retention of elderly care workforce is a striking problem for the European Union in general and for the ageing care sector in particular. How can the sector promote its attractiveness and what are effective HR-strategies for providers to recruit and retain staff?
How can cross border exchange of staff contribute to balanced workforce markets and how can training & education be facilitated and promoted?
EAN members feel responsible and take responsibility for elderly care workforce issues both as employers as well as service providers for older people. There is not much known about effective HR-strategies based on quality of the working environment, career perspectives and supportive systems. This can attract more people to the ageing services sector and not solemnly a higher wage.
Technology
Technology is an upcoming application in housing and services for ageing people: home automation and eHealth are common examples. There are plenty solutions and products on the market, but is still questionable whether these innovations are suited and convenient for older people.
EAN members are looking for the latest developments in these technologies, for efficient and effective ways on how to implement these in the living environments of older people and what are the advantages and disadvantages of implementing of available technologies and eHealth applications in specifically elderly care.
Living environments
Well-being and ageing-well heavily depend on the physical environment of the older people. The environment should be adapted to the needs and possibilities of older people. Their specific characteristics (health status, socio-economic status, physical abilities) require supportive environments. But also changing personal preferences and societal tendencies require an adaption of current elderly care housing and living environments.
EAN members recognize the specificities of older persons and want to provide adapted, supportive, and value-adding living environments for the growing group of older persons.
These four focus themes are inter-connected and should not be considered separately. ECREAS will not only provide and foster this interconnectivity, but also deepen the understanding and logic of it.
