Periodic Reporting for period 2 - eCARE (Digital solutions supporting continuum of care for frailty prevention in old adults)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2021-07-02 do 2024-07-01
The eCare project, under Horizon 2020, aims to develop digital solutions for preventing and managing frailty in older adults, with a focus on promoting independent living and reducing pressure on healthcare systems. It addresses the growing societal challenge of an aging population, where frailty leads to increased healthcare demands and costs. By fostering cross-sector collaboration among healthcare professionals, researchers, and tech companies, eCare seeks to deliver innovative, patient-centered solutions that improve the quality of life for older adults and make healthcare more sustainable.
The specific objectives of the eCare project include:
- Promote systematic routine screening for pre-frailty stages in older adults in clinical practice.
- Develop and implement sustainable multimodal interventions to prevent and manage physical, cognitive, and psychosocial decline, including addressing loneliness and isolation.
- Manage functional decline and frailty through personalized interventions in physical fitness, nutrition, cognitive function, and social well-being.
- Contribute to integrated care pathways by providing better-informed and trained healthcare professionals to deliver anticipatory, patient-centric care.
- Shift towards patient-centric interventions to promote engagement and acceptance of digital tools for frailty management.
- Advance research and methodology on frailty, including the links between frailty, isolation, and cognitive decline.
- Optimize resource use in health and social care systems, reducing societal costs associated with aging and making healthcare more sustainable.
- Foster cross-sector collaboration among academia, healthcare providers, municipalities, and tech companies to translate research into market-ready solutions.
Conclusions and Results Achieved:
The project achieved notable results through its phased implementation:
- Phase 1 (Feasibility Study): Eight consortia were selected to develop feasibility studies on their proposed solutions. These studies were evaluated, ensuring the solutions met technical and economic criteria.
- Phase 2 (Prototypes Development): Four consortia progressed to prototype development, during which key components of the solutions were developed and tested.
- Phase 3 (Pilot Testing): The final two consortia developed test-series products and services, which underwent limited field testing to assess their practical application. Despite challenges like pilot design and ethical approval delays, the solutions were validated and analyzed for technical, operational, and economic viability.
Key Results:
- The eCare project produced disruptive digital solutions that enable the early detection and management of frailty, thereby promoting independent living and reducing healthcare costs.
- The project engaged multiple stakeholders from 14 countries, including healthcare professionals, older adults, and tech companies, ensuring broad input and collaboration.
- Several key performance indicators (KPIs) were established to measure the effectiveness of the solutions, and the final solutions showed promise in tackling the challenges of frailty.
- Lessons learned and recommendations for future PCP processes in healthcare were documented, and continuous support for business modeling and dissemination ensured that the solutions developed could be scaled and used after the project’s conclusion
The specific objectives of the eCare project include:
- Promote systematic routine screening for pre-frailty stages in older adults in clinical practice.
- Develop and implement sustainable multimodal interventions to prevent and manage physical, cognitive, and psychosocial decline, including addressing loneliness and isolation.
- Manage functional decline and frailty through personalized interventions in physical fitness, nutrition, cognitive function, and social well-being.
- Contribute to integrated care pathways by providing better-informed and trained healthcare professionals to deliver anticipatory, patient-centric care.
- Shift towards patient-centric interventions to promote engagement and acceptance of digital tools for frailty management.
- Advance research and methodology on frailty, including the links between frailty, isolation, and cognitive decline.
- Optimize resource use in health and social care systems, reducing societal costs associated with aging and making healthcare more sustainable.
- Foster cross-sector collaboration among academia, healthcare providers, municipalities, and tech companies to translate research into market-ready solutions.
Conclusions and Results Achieved:
The project achieved notable results through its phased implementation:
- Phase 1 (Feasibility Study): Eight consortia were selected to develop feasibility studies on their proposed solutions. These studies were evaluated, ensuring the solutions met technical and economic criteria.
- Phase 2 (Prototypes Development): Four consortia progressed to prototype development, during which key components of the solutions were developed and tested.
- Phase 3 (Pilot Testing): The final two consortia developed test-series products and services, which underwent limited field testing to assess their practical application. Despite challenges like pilot design and ethical approval delays, the solutions were validated and analyzed for technical, operational, and economic viability.
Key Results:
- The eCare project produced disruptive digital solutions that enable the early detection and management of frailty, thereby promoting independent living and reducing healthcare costs.
- The project engaged multiple stakeholders from 14 countries, including healthcare professionals, older adults, and tech companies, ensuring broad input and collaboration.
- Several key performance indicators (KPIs) were established to measure the effectiveness of the solutions, and the final solutions showed promise in tackling the challenges of frailty.
- Lessons learned and recommendations for future PCP processes in healthcare were documented, and continuous support for business modeling and dissemination ensured that the solutions developed could be scaled and used after the project’s conclusion
From the beginning of the eCare project, the consortium focused on developing innovative digital solutions for the prevention and management of frailty in older adults. The project kicked off with an extensive assessment of unmet needs, engaging stakeholders such as healthcare professionals, patients, and tech providers. This early stage involved Open Market Consultations to ensure the proposed solutions addressed real-world challenges. The process culminated in a call for tenders, leading to the selection of eight consortia for the first phase, where feasibility studies were conducted.
During Phase 1, feasibility studies were carried out, leading to the selection of four suppliers to develop prototypes in Phase 2. These prototypes were designed to address frailty comprehensively, focusing on both clinical and social factors such as loneliness. The development process was closely monitored, with regular feedback sessions between the suppliers and the consortium, ensuring the solutions were aligned with the project’s objectives. By the end of Phase 2, the four prototypes were evaluated, and two were chosen for pilot testing in real-world conditions.
In the final phase, the two selected solutions were tested in pilot studies, though there were some delays due to ethical approvals and logistical challenges. These solutions demonstrated strong potential in addressing frailty, improving both the care provided and the quality of life for older adults. The project concluded with key results being disseminated through various channels, including a final event in Santander, promotional materials, and publications. Additionally, suppliers received coaching on business modeling to facilitate the exploitation of these solutions beyond the project, ensuring their sustainability and market readiness.
During Phase 1, feasibility studies were carried out, leading to the selection of four suppliers to develop prototypes in Phase 2. These prototypes were designed to address frailty comprehensively, focusing on both clinical and social factors such as loneliness. The development process was closely monitored, with regular feedback sessions between the suppliers and the consortium, ensuring the solutions were aligned with the project’s objectives. By the end of Phase 2, the four prototypes were evaluated, and two were chosen for pilot testing in real-world conditions.
In the final phase, the two selected solutions were tested in pilot studies, though there were some delays due to ethical approvals and logistical challenges. These solutions demonstrated strong potential in addressing frailty, improving both the care provided and the quality of life for older adults. The project concluded with key results being disseminated through various channels, including a final event in Santander, promotional materials, and publications. Additionally, suppliers received coaching on business modeling to facilitate the exploitation of these solutions beyond the project, ensuring their sustainability and market readiness.
The eCare project has progressed beyond the state of the art by developing innovative, digital solutions that integrate multiple dimensions of frailty management—physical, cognitive, and psychosocial. Unlike existing approaches that often focus on isolated aspects of care, eCare's solutions take a holistic approach by incorporating personalized interventions that address both medical and social determinants of health, such as loneliness and isolation. Additionally, the project has introduced advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and IoT-enabled devices, which allow for early detection and continuous monitoring of frailty. This comprehensive, technology-driven model represents a significant leap forward in managing the complexities of aging.
Expected results until the end of the project include the final validation of the two solutions that were piloted in real-world settings. These solutions are expected to demonstrate measurable improvements in the early detection, prevention, and management of frailty, contributing to better health outcomes and enhanced quality of life for older adults. The solutions are designed to be scalable and adaptable to different healthcare settings, increasing their potential for widespread adoption. By the end of the project, the solutions will be ready for market entry, with suppliers having received support on business strategies and commercialization plans.
The socio-economic and wider societal impacts of the project are significant. The eCare solutions have the potential to reduce healthcare costs by preventing hospitalizations and long-term care placements, easing the burden on overstretched healthcare systems. On a societal level, the project addresses the pressing challenge of aging populations by promoting independent living and improving the well-being of older adults. Additionally, the project fosters cross-sector collaboration between healthcare providers, technology companies, and research institutions, setting a new standard for innovation in elderly care. In the long term, eCare's solutions could contribute to more sustainable healthcare systems and improve the quality of life for millions of older adults across Europe.
Expected results until the end of the project include the final validation of the two solutions that were piloted in real-world settings. These solutions are expected to demonstrate measurable improvements in the early detection, prevention, and management of frailty, contributing to better health outcomes and enhanced quality of life for older adults. The solutions are designed to be scalable and adaptable to different healthcare settings, increasing their potential for widespread adoption. By the end of the project, the solutions will be ready for market entry, with suppliers having received support on business strategies and commercialization plans.
The socio-economic and wider societal impacts of the project are significant. The eCare solutions have the potential to reduce healthcare costs by preventing hospitalizations and long-term care placements, easing the burden on overstretched healthcare systems. On a societal level, the project addresses the pressing challenge of aging populations by promoting independent living and improving the well-being of older adults. Additionally, the project fosters cross-sector collaboration between healthcare providers, technology companies, and research institutions, setting a new standard for innovation in elderly care. In the long term, eCare's solutions could contribute to more sustainable healthcare systems and improve the quality of life for millions of older adults across Europe.