Phara-ON

Project Title: Phara-ON – Pilots for Healthy and Active Ageing

Project Website: https://www.pharaon.eu/

Project Description

In a rapidly ageing Europe, the need for tools to improve the quality of life, independence and overall health of older adults is increasing. Advanced ICT solutions combining technologies from different fields can solve this problem, but the market is fragmented and many solutions have a limited scope.

The overall objective of the Phara-ON project is to provide support to the ageing population in Europe by integrating digital services, devices and tools in open platforms that can be used immediately, while preserving the dignity of older adults and enhancing their independence, security and abilities. The project will use a range of digital tools, including the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, robotics, cloud computing, edge computing, smart wearables, big data and smart analytics integrated to provide personalised and optimised healthcare.

The integrated Phara-ON platforms will be evaluated in two stages: pre-validation and large-scale pilots to be carried out in six different locations: Murcia and Andalusia (Spain), Portugal, The Netherlands, Slovenia and Italy. In order to simplify adaptation and integration, development tools will be publicly available. These tools and their dissemination results will serve to disseminate the knowledge gained to encourage the development of new solutions similar to those of the project.

The objectives of the project are:

•  to identify the current state of interoperability between widely used platforms and partner solutions and third-party solutions;

•  carry out personal analyses aimed at older adults and their health and on the well-being of older adults;

•  demonstrate the feasibility of integrating Phara-ON into existing systems related to smart transport systems and mobility through energy optimisation and “smart cities”;

•  provide user-friendly means of human-computer cooperation that address different capacity constraints and allow quick access to useful information;

•  (through public tenders) integrate new stakeholders and their technologies, products or services into different ecosystems.

The National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) acts as a partner of the project and takes care of the dissemination of the pilot project in Slovenia and other substantive cooperation. It is actively involved in the preparation of a pilot project in Slovenia (preparation of the protocol) – facilitating the life of older adults through the use of IT technology and in improving their social and physical abilities.

Added value

As part of the project, the NIJZ will connect with various national and regional programmes related to the objectives of the project.

It will also strengthen networking with experts from other research institutions (41 partners are involved in the project).

It will collect information to ensure the well-being of the elderly (analysis of the needs of older adults).

It will strengthen the research area under consideration: the knowledge gained in the project will enable interdisciplinary cooperation with experts in the field of elderly treatment and will present opportunities for future research projects.

Added value for Slovenia:

•  new knowledge in integrating ICT technology into homes for the elderly, with a view to increasing healthy and active behaviour;

•  illumination of the needs of older adults and analysis of possibilities for facilitating their lives (in homes for the elderly),

•  new findings on ensuring a quality indoor environment for older adults;

•  transfer of the innovations developed in the project to the national environment.

Expected Results and Materials

In order to raise awareness of the importance of facilitating the lives of older adults through the use of IT technology and connecting with experts in Slovenia dealing with this topic, we organised the participation in two international conferences in September 2023.

We will prepare a range of journals/media where information for older adults is published and the research area under discussion will be strengthened, as the knowledge gained in the project will enable interdisciplinary cooperation with experts in the field of elderly health and will present opportunities for future research projects.

A document is to be drafted in the form of guidelines entitled Indoor Environmental Quality, where we will prepare a systematic review of literature in this field, identify the risks of heat waves and vulnerable population groups, and assess air quality.

Key results in 2022:

•  update of the national dissemination plan;

•  preparation of articles on the topic of pre-validation and publication in local media and in homes for the elderly;

•  video preparation – results of the Slovenian pilot, intended for dissemination of results,

•  preparation of leaflets for old people’s homes;

•  preparation of a pool of stakeholders dealing with the topic in Slovenia;

•  participation in conferences, congresses (7^th Congress of Preventive Medicine, Festival for the 3^rd Life Period);

•  organisation of the International Conference Digital Assistance for Silver Years, cooperation with contribution and preparation of the Conference’s Compendium.

Documents:

•  Information on the pilot study, background and objectives of the project (pdf)

•  Leaflet

•  Miscellany titled Digital Help for Older Adults

Project Duration: 1 December 201–31 May 2024

Supporting Organisation: School of Advanced Studies Sant’Anna, Italy

Project Partners: 41 partners, including National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ)

Funding: Horizon 2020 (EU)