Mindful Ageing Erasmus Project

Project Title

Mindful Ageing

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: Civic engagement / responsible citizenship; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Health and wellbeing

Project Summary

Mindful Ageing will develop resources & training to aid older EU citizens (50+) to maintain a healthy, positive mindset and improve their mental well-being, building resilience and avoiding potential physical/mental wellbeing issues developing. According to WHO, “between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world’s population over 60 years will nearly double from 12% to 22%” (https://bit.ly/2xzcpFA). In a 2018 “Ageing Report”, the European Commission stated that “The old-age dependency ratio (people aged 65 and above relative to those aged 15 to 64) in the EU is projected to increase by 21.6 percentage points, from 29.6% in 2016 to 51.2% in 2070” (https://bit.ly/3aslcrq). This change is predicted to have a significant impact; long-term care and health care costs “are expected to contribute the most to the rise in age-related spending, increasing by 2.1 percentage points”. Therefore, Mindful Ageing will focus on adults aged 50+, particularly those from vulnerable groups, developing positive attitudes to ageing and good mental wellbeing to prevent potential physical and mental wellbeing problems.

The project will promote the importance of looking after yourself and how to maintain positive and healthy mindsets through tools such as Mindfulness, Clinical Hypnosis, meditation and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), as well as good nutrition and physical activity. This type of ‘preventative medicine’ can combat isolation and loneliness in later life. According to AgeUK, “The Mental Health Foundation supports mindfulness as a tool to help you live your life, improve general well-being and treat depression, [helping] with a number of problems, such as recurrent depressions, anxiety disorders, addictive behaviour, chronic pain” (https://bit.ly/2xDj4OU) Therefore, the project’s training methods will focus around a “bootcamp”, allowing those 50+ to explore themes and exercises based on Mindfulness, meditation etc, that have proven to develop positive mental wellbeing. This project will also include Support Groups to supplement the bootcamp, enabling peer-support and networking with those wishing to maintain a positive mindset in later life and thus boost motivation amongst participants and increase social capital. Within the broader target group of those 50+, this project aims to work with those particularly at risk of social isolation and its related impacts, including those: living alone; on low incomes/living in low socio-economic areas; from minority ethnic groups; from LGBTQ+ groups and those already in poor health/ with mobility limitations/cognitive/sensory impairment.
Throughout the project we aim to engage with approximately 2,500 people from the main target group, as well as a wider audience of approximately 500 support workers, policy makers and others who can influence the provision of training, support and health care for those 50+.
To achieve our objectives we will deliver:
IO1 Mindful Ageing Policy Framework Report- A report aimed at policy makers & organisations supporting older people which will help influence policy on ageing and wellbeing in partner countries and across the EU.
IO2 Mindful Ageing Bootcamp- Development and delivery of a 2-3 day Bootcamp, supported by learner and trainer materials, on mind & body wellness.
IO3 Mindful Ageing Support Groups- Development of a new mentoring & coaching methodology, supported by learner and trainer materials, through which participants will be encouraged to set actions to help their mental well-being long term.
IO4 Mindful Ageing Online Academy- Development of an online platform, including a toolkit of resources and a network for older people and support workers to make wider social and professional connections and access resources.
The main areas of impact which we will see through the project are:
A direct impact on lives of older people who take part in the project, in terms of developing positive attitudes to ageing and actively engaging in interventions which support them to live healthily and actively as they reach/move beyond retirement
An improved knowledge among adult learning providers, support workers, policy makers & older people, about positive psychology interventions and the benefits they provide to reduce the impact of ageing on individuals
Increased access of older people to adult learning opportunities
Increased networks between older people, adult learning providers & wider support organisations.
We hope that the project will contribute to more older people developing a positive and active mindset towards ageing and, in turn, helping to reduce the strain of an ageing population on social/health care systems across Europe. To deliver effective services to those 50+ there is a need to move away from the view of older people as a problem and towards viewing them as a resource- caring both for themselves and others. Empowering older people in this way requires new holistic interventions, giving them the resources to maximise wellbeing.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 373875 Eur

Project Coordinator

INOVA CONSULTANCY LTD & Country: UK

Project Partners

• E-SENIORS: INITIATION DES SENIORS AUX NTIC ASSOCIATION
• INSTITUTE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT
• CCS DIGITAL EDUCATION LIMITED
• BUSINESS INFORMATION AND CONSULTING CENTRE SANDANSKI ASSOCIATION
• OY VAASAN AMMATTIKORKEAKOULU – VASAYRKESHOGSKOLA AB