Tenderness for Life Erasmus Project

Project Title

Tenderness for Life

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 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Open and distance learning; Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills; Health and wellbeing

Project Summary

The 2015 Ageing Report states that ageing is a fact in EU countries & increases job-demand for support of elderly. In 2013, EU counted with 13.3% elderly people (people aged 65-79 y).Projections for the period 2013-2060 show that the number of elderly people (+65) and oldest-old (+80) will increase in large shares. The current EU trend – of more elderly people who need some form of professional care,especially those with dementia who require extra attention and more services – requires an update in education&training of all level workers in this field. Elderly care workers feel many times a lack of preparation and of proper communication skills, alongside with lower levels of training in care practices, increasing their emotional distress and decreasing the satisfaction receiving from their profession (Nilsson & Engstrom,2015). The use of a humanistic approach in delivering services to elderly people is seen as strategic solution to address the challenges in an ageing population; research (Bezold,2005;Olsson et al,2009;Reid et al,2009;WHO,2015; Picker Inst EU,2016) indicates that person-centred approaches are associated with better clinical outcomes and improved cost effectiveness» and thus, supporting the pressure that EU is facing in welfare systems for social and health care. This kind of humanistic approaches sees customers as “unique individuals”,taking in consideration their perspective and will in the decision-making process,by respect, courtesy, availability, communication.

The project TENDER4LIFE aimed to promote the professional development of adults (predominantly low-skilled) working in elderly care,by providing them with a complementary and alternative curriculum, based on humanistic approach. The project achieved the following results:
-Identification of a new job profile and list of competences for elderly care
-Creation of a competences assessment tool
-Elaboration of a user manual for the assessment tool
-Creation a conjoint and modular training course focused on a humanistic approach of care,including related materials
(presentations,worksheets,group activities,quizz), with a duration of 25 hours
-Development of a multimedia training course, including audio locution and design, available in a Learning Management Platform
-Pilot ing of one edition of the training course in each country, including testing the online assessment tool, for a total of 55 learners
-Elaboration of 6 country reports and a summary report of the piloting
-Creation of a good practices guide about how to apply an humanistic approach to care services.
All the outputs (including audio locution files) have been delivered in English and in mother tongue of each partner country.

Target groups of TENDER4LIFE have been:
_Partner’s staff members
_Care & VET providers
_VET Trainers/ Teachers
_Elderly care workers
_Elderly care managers
_Experts in elderly care
_Policy and decision makers

TENDER4LIFE reached almost 700 direct participants in all different activities of the project, including the development of outputs, piloting or multiplier events. Social media have been an important tool for dissemination, together with the professional networks of partner organizations.

Results achieved upon project completion include: a raised awareness on the importance of a humanistic care approach; a more prepared elderly care workforce, able and skilled to deliver care services to older adults, and thus promoting their quality of life and dignity. The project also contributed to enhanced care-takers’ satisfaction with care which might also imply – on the medium term – a reduction in turn over of staff which is rather frequent in the care field.

Project Website

https://www.tender4life-project.org/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 356115,65 Eur

Project Coordinator

ANZIANI E NON SOLO SOCIETA COOPERATIVA SOCIALE & Country: IT

Project Partners

• ASOCIATIA EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR SOCIAL INOVATION
• APROXIMAR- COOPERATIVA DE SOLIDARIEDADE SOCIAL, CRL
• MERSEYSIDE EXPANDING HORIZONS LIMITED
• TECHNOLOGIKO PANEPISTIMIO KYPROU
• ESPOON SEUDUN KOULUTUSKUNTAYHTYMA OMNIA
• ASOCIATIA HABILITAS – CENTRUL DE RESURSE SI FORMARE PROFESIONALA