Portuguese Pilot
The pilot in Portugal is divided between two locations, Amadora and Coimbra. The objectives of the Portuguese pilots are to develop and implement citizen focused solutions, integrated care and planning, integrated infrastructures and processes, and knowledge sharing. These pilots include a central focus on the relationship between the community, the environment, and the people living in them. Accordingly, the use cases addressed by the Pilot sites in Portugal are participation in community life, lifelong learning, and ensuring a safe and comfortable environment.
The Portuguese pilot aims to develop and implement citizen-focused solutions and design an integrated care system (planning, integrated infrastructures and processes, knowledge sharing).
Two technologies have been tested so far: 1) the Sentab system, which is a platform providing social interaction among older adults and the possibility to order goods and services; 2) Globalcare, which is a virtual assistant to monitor health status and behavior.
The two pre-validation phases were carried out as per the agreed protocol. Participants were selected according to the established inclusion criteria: 10 older adults (both sites), 2 social workers and 3 home care assistants, in Phase 1, and 5 social workers and 5 home care assistants, in Phase 2. The participants were invited to test the systems and provide feedback. As a result, the pilot partners sent their feedback and requirements to the technological partners in order for them to improve the system to better fit end-users needs and wishes.
Next steps: Both pilot sites will start the Pharaon pilot in March 2022. Caritas Coimbra and Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Amadora will continue testing Sentab App with several older adults for 12 to 15 months, motivating them to interact with other older adults, play cognitive games, order services and goods using the technology and promote the integration with the near community. After having the results from the open call, Caritas Coimbra will test the apps Together with City and Nature and City Audit Tour. These apps will guide citizens, in particular older adults, towards a healthier connection with the natural areas close to their homes. Throughout the previously mentioned period of time, Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Amadora will also continue testing Globalcare, which will support social workers and homecare assistants in the management and scheduling of the care provided, as well as a domotic system, obtained through the Open Call, to monitor and, ideally, prevent falls as well as detect early signs of illness. The aim is for this solution to ensure a safe and comfortable environment while allowing the older adults to remain independent and in their homes for longer.