Introduction

In Europe long term care and support to those that need it, is often provided by care ecosystems of formal and informal caregivers. To make, or keep, care and support effective, efficient, affordable and of high quality, politicians and policymakers at all levels have put their trust in the role of person-centred digital technology in home care settings.

However, the adoption of technology in long term care and support depends on many critical factors that need attention, such as the (digital) competences of formal and informal care givers, the selection process leading to the choice for the most appropriate solutions, the availability or not of support for specific users and user groups, recognising differences and communalities between them, the expectations, motivations and fears of stakeholders (e.g. data protection, dehumanisation, security of Artificial Intelligence).

European, national and local governments could, and probably should, do more to facilitate the adoption of technology in care and support networks in order to meet the aforementioned high level objectives.

In this session we will discuss the need for investments in the skills development of formal care workers (e.g. professionals) and informal carers. Starting from European initiatives such as the Digital skills agenda, the Pact for Skills, the Sector skills Alliance and European projects such as Care4skills and AI4HomeCare, we will discuss what national, regional and local governments, as well as service providers could do more to respond to information, training and organisational needs to facilitate the uptake of digital solutions in care and support services and in home care.

Organisations involved

EASPD – The European Association of Service Providers to Persons with Disabilities

AAATE – The Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe

Care4Skills project consortium (University of Linz, AIAS Bologna, others)

AI4HomeCare project consortium (MIS Foundation, Alzheimer Athens, Pragma Engineering)

Expected outcomes of the proposed session

-A joined declaration with policy recommendations for national, regional and local policymakers