IntegraCare: Person-centred care training program for multidisciplinary professionals Erasmus Project

Project Title

IntegraCare: Person-centred care training program for multidisciplinary professionals

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 vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Disabilities – special needs; Health and wellbeing; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

Fortunately, the concept of dependent individual has shifted favorably throughout history and now this group is intended to play the most uniform role in society possible. Although the definition of dependent people may vary from country to country, for IntegraCare project we will use reference from the Spanish law for the Promotion of Personal Autonomy and Care for people in situations of dependency. According to it, we define this collective as any person who, for reasons derived from age, illness or disability, and suffering a lack or loss of physical, mental, intellectual or sensory autonomy and need the support of other people or important aids to carry out basic activities of daily life or, in the case of people with intellectual disabilities or mental illness, other supports for their personal autonomy.

The problems of a person with physical or intellectual disability, in addition to their personal limitations, appear to have their origin in the obstacles and restricting conditions that exist in the society in which they live. Within these limitations, the possibility of developing an independent and autonomous life is perhaps one of those that requires new action frameworks, new organisational approaches and new professional practices.

The World Health Organization called for a paradigm shift in how health services are financed, handled and provided in its “Global Strategy on Integrated Human Centered Health Services 2016-2026.” To tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing health systems around the world, such as: ageing populations, urbanization and globalization of unhealthy lifestyles, the implementation of a person-centered care approach at international level has been required. The spread of non-communicable diseases, mental illness and injury; inadequate access to health systems; and lack of accountability by service providers with minimal opportunities to provide quality treatment that corresponds to their customers’ needs and preferences.

In this sense, the fostering of personal autonomy is directly related to the integration of dependent persons (including all areas of life) and should be promoted by interventions that enhance functional ability (physical, cognitive, psycho-affective and social) and acts that remove barriers to independent living. Social-health care for dependent people has for a long time been based on these people’s definition of “need”. The person’s critical focus is directed towards achieving changes in all aspects of the person’s quality of life and well-being, based on full respect for their integrity and freedoms, their desires and preferences, and counting on their successful involvement.

The central person-centered care principle is an indicator of quality and aims to achieve the highest levels of equality for people with functional diversity, embodied in fostering personal autonomy, encouraging dependent people’s active and healthy lives. This approach guarantees the highest possible level of personal inclusion and allows practitioners to work with an integrated strategy, creating and maximizing synergies without losing sight of this main goal of autonomy and inclusion. From the first interaction with the dependent individual, it is important that the multidisciplinary team carry out a collaborative review of their needs and abilities, which should cover many areas: home life, lifelong learning, health and safety, freedoms, social and community activities.

Truth, however, is typically not focused on these methods, primarily because every professional who assists the dependent individual is a specialist in his / her field (psychologists, social workers, physiotherapists, nurses, physicians, etc.) and from that point of view aims to improve user life. Therefore, we suggest the creation of a training programme that allows the various practitioners in this care model to be motivated through an immersive and/or combined approach (face-to-face, and online).

The main goals discussed by IntegraCare project include:
– Promoting dependent people’s personal autonomy, active and healthy lives.
– To empower the social and health care practitioners of vulnerable individuals and those with functional differences to apply critical person-centered treatment models.
– To raise awareness of the link between integral person-centered care and the quality of life of dependent people and its core dimensions: emotional well-being, interpersonal relationships, material welfare, personal development, physical well-being, self-determination, social inclusion and rights.

Implementing this project benefits from an equally interdisciplinary approach and including participants from various contexts of exposure to people with functional diversity. This will also allow realities to be integrated and their stories will motivate and enrich the final result with transferable experiences to other sociocultural realities.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 192455 Eur

Project Coordinator

Federación PREDIF Illes Balears de Personas con Discapacidad Física & Country: ES

Project Partners

• MEDIA CREATIVA 2020, S.L.
• TALLINNA TERVISHOIU KÕRGKOOL
• FUNDACJA “MALOPOLSKA IZBA SAMORZADOWA”
• ETAIRIA NOSOU ALZHEIMER KAI SINAFON DIATARAXON ATHINON SOMATEIO
• COOPERATIVA SOCIALE COOSS MARCHE ONLUS SOCIETA COOPERATIVA PER AZIONI