Ageing@Coimbra Reference Site Regional Meeting and Regional Support to Best Practices
The VI Regional Congress for Active and Healthy Aging was held on the 20th of November, at São Francisco Convent, in Coimbra and attended by around 400 citizens. The event was organized by the Ageing@Coimbra consortium and assembled a range of different stakeholders from the quadruple helix of innovation from the Centro Region of Portugal, a 3 star EIP on AHA Reference Site. They came together in a day dedicated to Ageing that included keynote speeches, round table discussions as well as a presentation on the 10 finalists of The Best Practice Awards in Active and Healthy Ageing.
The Best Practice Awards in Active and Healthy Ageing were established by the Centre Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDRC- Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento da Região Centro) in collaboration with the Ageing@Coimbra consortium. The award, already in its 2nd edition, aims to increase the dissemination and recognition of projects and initiatives that stimulate active and healthy ageing in the region. The applications included 188 different entities with 148 projects that were admitted to the competition in 3 different categories: Knowledge+, Health+ and Life+. The applications encompassed entities from 59 out of the 100 municipalities of the Centro region which reflects the vibrant innovation ecosystem of Centro region of Portugal. The winners were then announced during the closing ceremony of the VI Regional Congress.
The “Praça Vida+” was announced as the winner of the Knowledge+ category. Praça Vida+ is an event organized by Instituto Pedro Nunes and Universidade de Coimbra in relation to the EIT Health project Healthy Lifestyle Innovation Quarters for Cities and Citizens, which took place from the 20th to the 22nd July in Coimbra and aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles. Around 300 citizens participated in a healthy lifestyle assessment and circa 2000 citizens were able to watch and engage in debates and round table discussions on different topics relating to health and wellbeing, discover innovative technologies from local startups and obtain information about bodies, consortiums and projects in the areas of active and healthy ageing.
The “Saúde mais perto de si” project of the Associação de Socorros Mútuos Mutualista Covilhanense was the winner in the Health+ Category. The project, that includes 25 partners, consists of a Mobile Health Unit that provides nursing services (for 1500 elderly patients), medical care (for 350 elderly patients), psychological and social support, to the elderly population of the rural areas of Covilhã. It also includes a mobile "Activity Workshop" that promotes creativity as well as the acquisition and the development of individual and social skills.
“EU no musEU - programa para pessoas com demência e seus cuidadores”, an initiative of Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro and Alzheimer Portugal was the winner of the Life+ category. The project is based on a space of enjoyment and socialization for people with dementia and their caregivers. It uses different approaches complemented with theatre, music, group dynamics, short stories, yoga, biodanza and thematic sessions. The success of the program is insured by the creation of the "formal caregiver in session", which consists of volunteers who accompany each person with dementia during the sessions and provides for their safety, their basic needs and general well-being. During the seven years of the program, 66 monthly sessions were held, with participation from more than 50 volunteers, 28 people with dementia and 36 family members who are caregivers.