During its first 18 months, the S4R project has laid a solid scientific, empirical, and technical foundation for achieving its long-term goal of promoting resilience and mental wellbeing in elderly care. The initial phase focused on building the conceptual groundwork, collecting and analysing data, and advancing the first versions of the S4R digital Toolbox, which will be completed by mid-2026.
Four literature reviews on resilience, mental wellbeing, and the effectiveness of interventions were completed, as well as context mapping, leading to two scientific publications and more manuscripts in preparation. A comprehensive research protocol and validated quantitative and qualitative instruments were developed, translated, and applied across six European countries and Australia. More than 3,000 survey responses and over 300 interviews were collected, exceeding targets and providing a rich dataset to inform the Toolbox design.
Based on these data, the S4R digital Toolbox is being created through a user-centred co-creation process. The technical infrastructure - server, database, and deployment environment - has been fully established. Tool 1’s core functions are completed, Tool 2’s structure and initial content are in place, and an early version of Tool 3 allows leaders to create action plans and receive feedback. Multilingual capability has been built, though current content is in English. Preparations for pilot testing began in September 2025 with participant recruitment. Deliverables were slightly delayed to October 2025 to allow further implementation. AI is used for video avatars and NLP search support, while main analytics rely on established statistical methods.
The project has been managed effectively through structured coordination mechanisms, including regular consortium and management meetings, ethics and data protection oversight, and engagement of an international Expert Advisory Board. Ethics approvals were obtained in all participating countries, and two comprehensive Ethics Plans and a Data Management Plan were delivered. Dissemination and communication have been highly active, with the launch of the project website, two newsletters, an animated explainer video, three podcast episodes, conference presentations, and joint webinars with sister projects. The project maintains an active social media presence across multiple platforms and has established strong links with key stakeholder networks. Ethical compliance has been ensured throughout, supported by the Ethics Advisor and dedicated reporting. Apart from a few minor scheduling adjustments, all deliverables and milestones have been achieved as planned. S4R’s first reporting period has established the empirical evidence base, technical infrastructure, and collaborative framework necessary for the next phase of toolbox completion, large-scale testing, and translation of results into policy and practice recommendations.
