SIforAGE: Envisioning the new world for older people

September 13, 2016

SIforAGE is an European project of the VII Framework Programme, (Science-in-Society 2012-2016) which aims at promoting Active and Healthy Ageing (AHA) in society by strengthening cooperation between researchers, product- and service-developers, policy-makers, civil society organisations, and society in general. The two key challenges of SIforAGE are:

– to disseminate scientific knowledge in society and in advocacy activities;

– to promote the involvement of society and civil society organisations in research, in order to allow end-users to shape future research projects that could improve AHA.

Among the objectives for the project, we have intensily devoted to:

1 – To Engage Society In Research

To propose an adequate methodology for integrating end-users in technology- and service-development, through the activation of places of interaction called Technology Experience Cafés (TECs).
To assess older people’s needs in terms of age-related research http://www.siforage.eu/publications.php
To promote older people’s engagement in research through local intervention programmes. http://www.siforage.eu/science_corner.php#.V8alVJiLS00
To build a recommendation guide in order to increase the engagement of older people in research. <http://www.siforage.eu/publications.php>
To prevent ageist attitudes through intervention programmes with children and young people. To fulfil this objective, an intergenerational programme was pilot tested in Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Lithuania, and Italy. The ImAGES e-book containing the intervention concept and pilot testing outcomes, including recommendations for secondary school curriculum designers, has been launched and presented at several international forums. The e-book is available at leyaonline.com/pt/livros/ciencias-sociais-e-humanas/antropologia-e-sociologia/images-ebook/

2 – To Promote The Participation Of Policy-Makers In Research

To organise four mutual-learning sessions in order to improve the participation of policy-makers in the research process. Contacts have been selected, and surveys and mutual-learning sessions for policy-makers are being designed and some have already started. The platform and the educational programme established for this purpose are functioning, and we are trying to connect policy-makers at local and national level. The platform is available at mutualearning.net/cms/

3 – To Build A Movement That Enables The Promotion Of Aha In Society

To build an evidence-based definition of Active and Healthy Ageing (AHA).
To build a virtual site – a social incubator siforage.eu/ – in which stakeholders involved in AHA will exchange, debate, and cooperate with a view to its promotion. A social-learning platform is already in place at http://siforage.sociallearningsystem.com/site, and an on-line Helpdesk www.siforage.eu/contact.php is available with evidence-based answers.
The value chain of AHA embraces all those areas involved in the healthy ageing process, including physical, cognitive and mental health, social engagement, active life, functional capacity, and functional independence.
To reflect in five dynamic documents – written inside the Knowledge Management Units (KMUs) – that relate to five key issues for AHA:
- how to increase healthier living years (KMU1);
- how to enhance autonomy and decision-making for older people, particularly for those suffering from Alzheimer’s (KMU2);
- how to enable older people to be active in society (KMU3);
- how communities and the private sector can promote an “age-friendly” environment (KMU4);
- how new services and technology can help in improving a better ageing experience at home (KMU5).

4 – To Promote The Inclusion Of Scientific Knowledge In Policy-Making

To analyse how policy-makers implement programmes for promoting AHA and for preventing ageism across Europe.
To analyse decision-making processes for policy-making.
In the project the task of analysing the decision-making model at a political level in European countries, such as the European Parliament, and in international bodies, such as the United Nations, has been completed. http://www.siforage.eu/publications.php

Elaboration of recommendations to promote evidence-based policy-making. http://www.siforage.eu/publications.php

5 – To Promote The Participation Of Policy-Makers In Research

To organise four mutual-learning sessions in order to improve the participation of policy-makers in the research process. Contacts have been selected, and surveys and mutual-learning sessions for policy-makers are being designed and some have already started. The platform and the educational programme established for this purpose are functioning, and we are trying to connect policy-makers at local and national level. The platform is available at mutualearning.net/cms/

6 – To Promote The Introduction Of Innovative Services And Products For Aha

To analyse how entrepreneurs create new companies, services, products, and technologies for AHA.
To propose a practical guide for training stakeholders in the private sector, in public authorities, and in organised civil society, enabling them to innovate in the field of AHA.

7 – To Disseminate Information And Knowledge Amongst Stakeholders