The Research Institute in Social Wellbeing Policies of UV (Polibienestar) has become a reference in European research in the area of promoting active and healthy aging, thanks to their active participation and leadership as a part of European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA).
The institute, directed by Jorge Garcés Ferrer, has been the engine of this European initiative ever since its beginnings in 2012, and it has established itself outstandingly in this new 2016-2018 time period, in which it again takes on organisational responsibilities.
EIP on AHA is an initiative promoted by the European Comission which, as professor Garcés explans, “in two year aims to increase the lifespam and wellbeing of european citizens, in the 2020 timeframe, through: the improvement of health and standard of living, especially in the elderly; better health care systems as well as efficient and sustainable social assistance in the long term; and the increase of competition in the industry of the EU through newly formed companies and expansion to new markets”. Active and healthy aging is a challenge shared by all european countries. The platform and the commitments that it has made offer Europe an opportunity to stand out as a world leader able to offer innovative solutions to the challenge above.
Polibienestar´s commitment in this new period of action will encompass six action groups of EIP on AHA. In particular, Polibienestar has renewed its commitment in Grupo B3 (Integrated care); has presented two proposals of commitments for Groups A2 (FAlls prevention) and A3 (Functional decline and frailty); and it has again positioned group D4 (Age friendly environments) as a leader of two groups in this area and participating actively in other five groups.
The groups directed by Polibienestar are focused on two lines of research: on the one hand, coordination of actions at the local and regional level, and on the other hand, friendly tourism for the elderly. “Coordination and commitment, increasing impact on policy making” is a group led by Elisa Valía, who works so that EIP on AHA remains among the priorities at the European level, intiating actions which produce results at a local and regional level. In particular, those involved in the group attempt to coordinate actions and initiatives which have an orgin in EIP on AHA, and to transfer them to the local and regional level, measuring its impact for the creation of sustainable and efficient public policies. Polibienestar is also a founding member of Covenant on Demographic Change through which it aims to continue supporting local and regional entities and other agents interested in the development of age-friendly environments which improve the quality of life, promote independent living and create a society open to all ages.
“Age-friendly tourism and its impact” is a research group directed by Dr. Mireia Ferri whose objective is to promote friendly tourism as a strategy of social policy for active and healthy aging, while at the same time promoting it as an economic opportunity for the tourism sector and other similar sectors (silver economy). Those involved in this group attempt to promote age-friendly tourism, improve its image within intelligent cities, using TICs as tools of inclusion and accessibility.
With the leadership of these two groups and their active participation in the rest of the groups, “Polibienestar assures its high position as an institute of reference in the field of active, healthy aging in Europe”, professor Garcés affirms.
Last update: 19 de july de 2016 08:51.
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