The Erasmus+ C@RE Project: How Europe's ageing population makes it necessary to rethink social and care worker training’
In Europe, demographic ageing is an increasingly evident reality. According toEurostat data reported by AICCRE (2022), the average age of the Europeanpopulation on 1 January 2022, was 44.4 years, 2.5 years higher than in 2012. The picture was thus of a continent with half the population being 44.4 yearsold and the remainder younger.
This demographic trend leads to an increasing demand for care for the elderly,making the role of carers and social workers crucial. However, the lack of specificdata at European level makes it difficult to quantify exactly the number of theseprofessionals. It is clear, however, that the need for home care has become anincreasing need throughout Europe.
In this context, equipping carers and caregivers with digital skills becomesessential. The European Commission recognises digital competences asone of the eight key competences for lifelong learning. However, there is stilla significant digital skills gap among professionals in the care sector. It is thereforenecessary to promote initiatives that aim to improve digital literacy,communication skills and understanding of the ethical implications of using digital technologies.
The integration of digital technologies in home care offers numerous advantages. For example, the European project MARIO (http://www.mario-project.eu/portal/),funded by the Horizon 2020 programme, developed an assistive robot to addressthe challenges of loneliness and dementia in the elderly. This project demonstratedhow technology can improve the quality of life of the elderly and facilitate the workof caregivers by fostering greater connection between users, caregivers and the community.
However, the adoption of digital tools requires appropriate training. Digital skills are not limited to the use of electronic devices, but also include the abilityto critically evaluate information, ensure data privacy and communicateeffectively through digital platforms. Poor training in these areas can be asignificant barrier to the effective implementation of technology in care.
In addition, digitisation of care services can help reduce the number of hospitaladmissions by enabling continuous monitoring of the health status of carerecipients and timely response to their needs. This proactive approach not onlyimproves the well-being of the elderly but also represents significant savings forEuropean healthcare systems.In conclusion, the integration of e-skills in personal and social care is now anecessity to meet the challenges of an ageing European population. The use oftechnology, when coupled with appropriate training, not only improves the qualityof care provided to the elderly and frail, but also allows for greater efficiency insocial and health services, reducing costs and improving the overall well-being ofthe cared-for.
The Erasmus+ project C@RE (Augmented Reality Approach for Personal Care)stems precisely from the analysis of the needs of a demographically changing Europe and stands as an innovative initiative to try to decrease the digital divide inthe care sector. Through the use of Augmented Reality (AR), the project aimsto improve the training of caregivers and associates by offering advanceddigital tools for hands-on and interactive learning. The aim is to provide themwith the skills they need to use technology effectively, thus improving the quality ofcare and facilitating their daily work. Investing in digitisation and continuoustraining of these professionals is crucial to ensure modern, inclusive andsustainable care. Projects like C@RE represent a concrete step in this direction,contributing to a future in which technology and innovation become valuable alliesin caring for the most vulnerable people in our society.For more information visit the project website: https://ar4personalcare.eu/
