COMFORTage intends to provide a comprehensive framework to deal with dementia and frailty screening, prevention and support. The use of technologies proposed by the project brings new systemic perspectives but also complex challenges. To make sure COMFORTage solutions reflect real needs, the project organised five co-creation workshops with patients and carers, healthcare professionals, researchers, technology developers, and policy makers. The workshops were prepared with inputs coming literature, surveys and interviews. During a COMFORTage Community Forum webinar, we have also proposed several important statements which have been evaluated by the attendants and used as inputs for the workshops.
Together, the five workshops explored thus the value of COMFORTage’s Key Exploitable Results (KERs):
- AI based Virtual Health Platform (VHP): prevention, monitoring, and management of dementia and frailty.
- Training & Educational Toolkit (TET): resources to boost health and digital literacy for older adults, carers, and professionals.
- Training & Educational Marketplace (TEM): a hub to share, find, and access trusted and validated resources.
During the workshops, participants shared clear messages about what matters most to them. These insights connect directly to our Key Exploitable Results (KERs):
- Researchers – VHP: “What we really need is access to interoperable, standardised longitudinal datasets. Without harmonised data models and structured metadata, it’s almost impossible to replicate studies or compare research results.”
- General Public – TET: “As a caregiver, I have access to scientifically validated educational resources in my language, adapted to my situation and knowledge level, helping me better understand dementia and/or frailty, their progress and interaction, and how to provide care.”
- General Public – TEM: “As an individual interested in healthy ageing, I have access to a non-exhaustive list of verified digital health tools, all gathered in one place.”
In the table below we provide a glimpse of the aspects which were widely supported by the workshop participants.
Looking Ahead
The workshops confirmed that COMFORTage’s innovations are relevant among stakeholder groups, responding important specific needs, filling gaps and helping them to face current challenges. The findings now serve as the basis for refining the value propositions and business models for each customer segment, and these will be consolidated into the project’s Exploitation Plan to ensure sustainability and real-world impact.
**Article written by Luc Nicolas, Sara Canella, Maya Gerotziafa and Michail Mitsouridis, from EHTEL and Q-PLAN, key partner in the COMFORTage project.