Digital Tools and Methods for Safe Transfer Techniques for Caregivers in Today’s Health Care Sector Erasmus Project

Project Title

Digital Tools and Methods for Safe Transfer Techniques for Caregivers in Today’s Health Care Sector

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Pedagogy and didactics

Project Summary

Context/background of the project
A former project in Denmark has reduced work injuries among caregivers caused by transfers (moving and handling people with physical impariment) by 36%. These findings are the foundation of this project – titled “Digital Tools and Methods for Safe Transfer Techniques for Caregivers in Today’s Health Care Sector” (STTech).
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 caregivers 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 caregivers (both professional – public servants and private ones) and to offer effective assistance to older adults.
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 caregivers are the providers of this service, characterized to be a physically demanding job. As a result, many of the caregivers workers are suffering from back pain, attrition or even work injuries. At the same time, difficulties recruiting caregivers are occurring. Improving caregivers 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 caregivers
– 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

Number and profiles of participants
The Consortium consists of 6 partners divided in 3 categories:
1. Education of health care workers
2. Work life of caregivers
3. Development of digital tools for caregivers
The Consortium includes 3 universities, a nursing home, a research center of interactive media, a municipality and a rehabilitation center to form the project based on different perspectives and skills. The project will build bridge between the education, the caregiver’s work life and the development of digital tools. The partners are:
– UCAM (Fundacion Universitaria San Antonio) from Spain
– VEVU (Lavoslav Ruzicka, College of Applied Sciences) from Croatia
– VIA (University College of Applied Sciences) from Denmark
– RISE (Research centre on Interactive Media, Smart Systems and Emerging Technologies) + AMEN (Archangelos Michael Nursing Home) from Cyprus
– Västerås Rehabilitation Care Center from Sweden
– The Municipality of Aarhus, CFT (Center of Assisted Living Technologies) from Denmark. Leading partner of the STTech 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 caregivers 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.
Implementing the results of this project in today’s health care sector is an investment that will benefit the economy by virtue of less sickdays for caregivers.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 249803 Eur

Project Coordinator

AARHUS KOMMUNE & Country: DK

Project Partners

• CYENS-Centre of Excellence Limited
• College of Applied Sciences Lavoslav Ruzicka in Vukovar
• VIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
• FUNDACION UNIVERSITARIA SAN ANTONIO
• Västerås stad, vård och omsorgsförvaltningen