Characterisation Of A Green Microenvironment And To Study Its Impact Upon Health and Well-Being in The Elderly As A Way Forward For Health Tourism.

Project Information

CHARMED

Grant agreement ID: 734684

DOI

10.3030/734684

Project closed

EC signature date 14 December 2016

Start date 1 January 2017

End date 31 December 2021

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 2 430 000,00

EU contribution

€ 2 430 000,00

Coordinated by

PERCUROS BV
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - CHARMED (Characterisation Of A Green Microenvironment And To Study Its Impact Upon Health and Well-Being in The Elderly As A Way Forward For Health Tourism.)

Reporting period: 2019-01-01 to 2021-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

What is the problem/issue being addressed?
There are two important issues which the CHARMED project will address: a) to create a better understanding of those needs that develop as we grow older with regards to health in the age brackets 45-64 and 65+ people in the context of longevity and quality of life and b) to promote new career and job prospects for young people in Nemi. Both need to coexist in a mutually inclusive relationship if such small communities, where Nemi serves as an example (being dwarfed by the bigger city of Rome), are to prosper more independently from larger cities or towns.
Why is it important for society?
Many aspects of human well-being and economic activities rely on ecosystem functions and processes. The water and air quality defines the purity of the environment, the food chain is based on the maintenance of fertile soil and our mental and physical health depends on our interaction and accessibility to green spaces. It is commonly known that the proportion of older people in Europe, and indeed globally, is dramatically increasing and this change is having major implications on global markets. The demographic shift towards the older generation will mean a move towards a different type of consumer with an inevitable change in demand for products and services relating more to health and well-being.
What are the overall objectives?
The aim is to deliver a set of integrated and inter-related deliverables where the overall objective is to boost communities so that they become more independent and self-sustainable. To achieve this, we have set ourselves four different phases in the project: a) the CHARACTERISATION of the local community of Nemi, which includes the demographics and anticipating any trends, the businesses, transportation and quality of life (QOL); b) the CORRELATION, where we analyze the relationship between those living in the community and those visiting from the outside, with a special focus on tourists, and to understand how this could be utilised to positively impact everybody; c) the DEVELOPMENT, where we implement urban infrastructure changes, such as landscaping, social & therapeutic horticulture and physical exercise to promoting a theme of wellness and d) perform an ECONOMIC IMPACT analysis, where we will also put in place a strategy to improve the running of local businesses as well as look at new opportunities to create employment and new businesses.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far:
WP1: The Baseline
By the end of the project the full study of air, soil and water quality of the Nemi location was completed and analysed as well as an analysis based on spatial, temporal, and spectral band imaging and use of satellite sensor technology to map green and urban land cover, was performed in order to quantify the direct and indirect benefits of flora including an assessment of any outstanding individual specimens in the area of Nemi.
WP2: The Correlation
Secondees from outside of Italy completed the interview of people in their own homes. The measures comprise physical categories such as ambulation, mobility, body care and movement, as well as psychosocial aspects like social interaction, communication, alertness, emotional behaviour, sleep, rest, food, and recreation. Besides the interviews, our secondees also implemented a catalogue of protocols for the measure of stress biomarkers, using biological samples from a biobank.
WP3: The Development
The makeovers has been carried out, in conjunction with the community and the mayor of Nemi, during all the project time. The information desk has been maintain open. This focal point of the commune is used to monitor the type and number of visitors coming to Nemi. Furthermore, a hiking path from the commune to the lake and communal areas were restored and is now maintained on a regular basis thanks to the "Giornata ecologica". This coincides with the promotion of physical activities and several related events including weekend walking tours. We develop several activities for the elderly which include sport classes, cultural events, and wellness weekends, amount others. We also started the #AmiciDiNemi video campaign with the intent to promote Nemi traders.
WP4: The Economics
The ambitions of this project were to seek ways to recouple health to nature whilst also considering new opportunities for economic growth linked to asserting Nemi as a modern-day centre for health tourism. We designed and presented a group of proposals, based on successful socio-economic development examples, seeking similar objectives and development opportunities in Italy and beyond, as well as the long term sustainability of the community. In the meantime, we implemented small improvements as, measures to support biodiversity and, in collaboration with a botanical expert, educational walks teaching participants how to recognize the wild herbs that characterize the flora of the NEMI territory and the opening of a restaurant. This and other proposals, as well as an overview of the cost and revenue has been submitted.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Progress beyond the state of the art:
Firstly, we are implementing wearable devices for the elderly. These are watches with sensors that can monitor the heart rate of the individual, their mobility and their surrounding environment (e.g. room temperature). Secondly, we have a point-of-care diagnostic device with connectivity to health centres and professionals. Basic analytical measurement of lipids and inflammatory markers can be taken at home and relayed to these centres without going to see a doctor. If there are problematic readings, the health professionals can then make a visit to the individual. A catalogue of protocols for the measure of stress biomarkers has been develop for a more complete study of the influence of the environment in this affection.
Expected results until the end of the project:
We anticipate a socio-economic impact of more jobs being created, better career opportunities and more prosperous local business, fuelled by recognising tourist visit patterns, where individuals within the community are challenged to maintain and sustain the cultural services of this ecosystem. If this can be achieved through the support of other partners in the consortium through secondments, then novel ideas may be shared and new outlooks are presented. We therefore expect two inter-related key parameters to be attained by the end of this period: a) improved governance, opportunities and self-sustainability and b) better QOL for individuals in the community.
Potential impacts including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far
One of the important issues which the CHARMED project has addressed is the better understanding of the needs of olders, in a mutually inclusive relationship together with the aspirations of younger people. Both need to coexist if such small communities are to prosper more independently away from larger cities towards self-sutainability. A major impact during the project period has been the creation of new businesses in Nemi, a restaurant, a green taxi company, several sport classes, cultural events, and wellness weekends, amount others.This meant self-employment for local people and for the restaurant, a further four jobs were created in Nemi.

charmedlogo-copia.png