SHAPES dialogue workshop explored how to make technology work in care

AGE supported the organisation of the 5^th SHAPES online dialogue workshop “Beyond the pilots – Upscaling and transfer of person-centred digital solutions in integrated care pathways in Europe“ on 3 May 2022. The workshop brought out issues – including governance and policy related challenges – to be addressed when adopting, upscaling and transferring technological solutions to foster the development of integrated care systems.

The first part of the dialogue workshop set the scene with presentations of:

• the SHAPES project, in which we are involved as a partner,
• the 4-wheel framework for technology adoption in integrated care,
• the SHAPES pilots
• methods of transferring and upscaling integrated care.

Discussions acknowledged the great potential of technology for upscaling integrated care, provided we take critical factors such as the human factor, ongoing support, using empowerment and making technology resilient in terms of different environments into account.

Innovation as a cyclical process

The 4-Wheel Framework, developed by SHAPES, features more than 150 impacting factors clustered into thematic domains and phases in the adoption process. This model aims to be used as a framework supporting and guiding technology adoption in care and support services.

“Technology might not be the problem, the problem is how to make it work in care services and care facilities”, stressed Luk Zelderloo, former Secretary General of the European Association of Service providers for persons with disabilities.

Recommendations from participants

Participants were invited to reflect on what strategy they would recommend to developers to ensure the large-scale uptake of their solutions, and to service provider for the successful adoption of person-centred technology in integrated care. The key strategies mentioned were:

To developers:

1. Co-creation
2. Engage all relevant stakeholders
3. Ethics by design
4. Involve public institutions.

The importance of user engagement was emphasized, highlighting that users make the final decision on what technologies they want.To service providers:

1. Ensure workload for caregivers (professional and informal) does not increase (too much)
2. Support decision making for persons’ with disabilities and the right to opt-out
3. Need to balance individual needs with population needs
4. Change narrative: older people are empowered

Read our more detailed report here

The recording of the workshop will soon be available on the workshop’s website (click here)