At the initiative of the Development Centre of the Heart of Slovenia, together with the representative of the Ministry of Health and the Slovenian project manager of the European project EU_SHAFE Anita Molka, I attended the 3rd EU_SHAFE Intense Sharing of Good Practices for inter-regional learning meetings in Aarhus. For me, the information gathered during the visit was very important. I have been particularly interested in good practices involving volunteers and the elderly, especially those with dementia, because working at Elderly Home Tisje I often look for innovative solutions to improve the quality of our work.
In Aarhus, the host – the Centre for Assisted Living Technology, Municipality of Aarhus - organised presentations and tours of the Intergenerational Centre - Generationernes Hus (not yet fully operational), which allowed us to visit the premises for the elderly, young, single-parent families and the disabled. Their approach to connecting different generations and vulnerable groups is especially innovative, and common areas for socialising, kitchens, fitness centres, etc. are especially interesting. The basic idea of the centre is to prevent loneliness, socialise with different generations and to help each other under the professional coordination of the head of the centre.
I was especially pleased to visit the newly built nursing home for people with dementia - Skovvang, where people are treated comprehensively. In addition to the accommodation of the elderly with advanced dementia, there will also be shorter stays organised in the facility, intended for the care of people with initial dementia in support of the patient and their loved ones. They will receive care from occupational therapists, physiotherapists, naturists, psychologists and other specialists. The newly built facility has some new solutions related to lighting (adapted light color), moving residents from bed to toilet (handrail with access to bathroom and toilet) and safety (use of tracking devices).
Other innovative practices presented (DokkX - an innovative development centre for welfare technologies and digital healthcare solution; SPARK – an urban living space, which partly satisfies the need for outdoor rehabilitation for users and partly the need for environmental adaptation efforts in this area) have been followed with great interest.
I found many of the ideas presented very useful to enhance my work at the Elderly home Tisje; just to make few examples: setting up an office for counselling the elderly by a graduate nurse, presentation of modern technological devices, introduction of changes based on analytical and elevation studies, etc.
Excellent presentations of all good practices, analysis of the objectives achieved and their selfless sharing is an experience that shows that partners come together in a project to share know-how and practices and transfer them to other contexts and environments.
I am sincerely grateful for this opportunity. Sincere praise goes to the host organisation and to Anita Molka for her support in finding contacts and connecting the Tisje retirement home with suitable partners.
