Conclusions and further steps
With the hope to speed up the readers’ feedback and curiosity in applying these practices, and to interact with INNOMEC partners and experts about the further applications, we would like to share our final evaluations and some ideas on how to further valorise these techniques in other educational environments.
The main achieved results for the final beneficiaries can be summarised as follow:
- The improvement of the verbal capacities contributed getting the seniors participants out of their isolation, boosted their self-confidence and brought about a feeling of mutual respect in the groups.
- The intergenerational aspect has been of a capital importance for the two types of participants, the interaction resulted in an enrichment by the acquisition of new knowledge for the younger participants and a valorisation of the life experiences of the seniors, opening them to a broadened sociability.
- Win-win interactions between young and old people, between local communities and incomers have strong impacts for social cohesion (One student sad:
“it was a useful win-win experience for both - older and younger generation”
).
- In a relaxed atmosphere it is easier to talk about experiences especially if they were or are burdening. This is also true for long-time forgotten experiences.
- Often, elderly people don`t know each other well, although some of them meet daily. Guided round tables are very helpful to get in contact with each other and to improve verbal communication.
- Sharing memories can be an empowering experience like in “life history” and MEMORO. When the clients share their stories with others they really light up after the experience and are proud of themselves.
From the point of view of the external expert, the speech therapist Antonella Dessì, the effectiveness of the three methods are:
- For the APP: Activating areas of the brain, the right hemisphere, plasticity - The APP method is very effective in the activation of the attention centres, it encourages and allows an improvement of cognitive and expressive functions - Hearing is a function of the ear (passive reception), listening is a cognitive function. The listening method proposed by APP awakens a psychological dimension that involves the ability to analyse and emotionally manage information. The therapeutic effects: reduces anxiety, gives energy, improves the listening skills, develops attention and memory, desire to communicate, creativity (right hemisphere).
- For the TBW: Enhancement of the person - Encouragement to find personal learning solutions - Reconstruction of the personal identity story - Calming anxiety that often involves the patient and family - To promote a general sense of well-being - stimulating the memory and attention - Stimulate the participation of older person and caregivers - Relieve burden of care – Direct involvement of the person, activation of the attention system that is the basis of memory - Stimulus for the family participation - Effectiveness in group work - Benefit on psycho-affective sphere.
- For MEMORO digital interviews the basic elements are: keeping the same fundamental elements of the biographical approach, greater involvement of young people and social workers implementing intergenerational exchange and bond with the community, stimulus for operators to propose new initiatives including computer aids in which young and old could share new experiences.
The main achieved results for our direct target groups, practitioners and students, can be summarised as follow:
- The practitioners and the trainers were motivated to give a new impetus to their professional activity by the discovery of new methods and technologies, completing the competences they already acquired.
- The trainers were able to note the effectiveness of the combination of the 3 methods (APP, TWB and Memoro) and of its results, allowing the old guests to get into closer contact with the social and technological evolutions and thus be more integrated into the changing society around them.
- Practitioners were happy about activities offered. Because of lack of resources they often have to restrict themselves to just offering nursing services.
- Practitioners in Austria showed their willingness to create their own profile in the MEMORO database to implement activities on their own, and the two trainers engaged in the testing will further on use the service which had been developed during INNOMEC for their future professional career.
- Students in Lithuania reported:
- they enjoyed listening to older people and editing digital interviews (evaluated this as an authentic and innovative learning method).
- they acknowledged that making digital interview helped them to respect and value the older person as a unique personality.
- they persuaded that their skills of communication, listening and talking are of great importance in making contacts with older persons / performing gerontological social work.
- they would be happy to continue working with life stories of older persons in the future.
- Social workers engaged for the first time in this kind of mutual learning recognized updated professional skills; improved team work; acquisition of new methods; improved relationships with the home guests.
- Audio-Psycho-Phonology is also possible as an individual therapy, if the specific needs of the people involved are not favourable to group work. If seniors afflicted by Alzheimer or dementia in a more or less severe degree are concerned, the individual approach is necessary. Although, in the course of our pilots, this approach was not relevant.
- Curiosity in trying new activities leads people closer together, it is important to do in daily life, both for the clients and the staff. Step out of your comfort zone, no matter what your age is!
The main achieved results within the local communities can be summarised as follow:
- By the dissemination throughout the territory and the creation of new contacts with the institutions and the political decision makers, the lifelong learning programme was highlighted.
- The importance of the multicultural and intergenerational aspect, forging a solidarity between seniors and new incomers, opened perspectives in regard to the actual data that the decision makers have to face.
- The sensitiveness of local authorities, the closest institutional level committed in welfare and social inclusion in order to meet citizens’ social needs, gave a substantial support in the different countries. Although we have to report, fortunately an isolated case, one manager of one ECC who declared his doubts about the need of educators in ECCs!
The recommendations for promoting innovation through age-friendly educational proposals:
- The continuous dissemination in the institutions, closed or open and the intensification of the contacts with the political powers is of foremost importance to ensure an extensive application of the lifelong and lifespan learning, on the local as well as on the European level.
- Facing a population where seniors and new incomers are increasing in numbers, an interaction of this kind is a promising model of intergenerational and cultural integration.
- It is necessary to talk about plans and concepts in time. Talks shall be held at best before the beginning of the activities and together with the local caretakers and practitioners. This is also valid for the used materials. It will ease the cooperation.
- It is very important for practitioners and trainers to stay flexible concerning plans and methods to react to circumstances given by the local situation, the size of the group and individual needs of the participants. This means that strict plans or special expectations as well as pre-conceived text phrases in regard to the timeline or topic may be a big handicap.
- Empathy on the other side helps the people to relax and open themselves. For example, the light nervousness at the beginning of the interview will disappear when the interviewed partners find out that they are respected and that their biographies are listened to with interest without issuing value, devaluing or even condemnation.
- It is highly recommended to know well the specific circumstances of premises (light, space, noise, extra room for interview recording) before the meeting starts.
- It is better to work in small groups with only about 5 people.
- A preparation of the participants by their care-takers is very important for a good implementation of activities.
- Be flexible! Try offering something different depending on the setting and the participants.
- Try and then try again. Be realistic in the planning.
- Sharing experiences with other European organisations generates more awareness about the own operational and professional role, showing the effectiveness of peer-to-peer learning approaches.
- These kind of initiatives have a great motivational influence on the quality assurance of care services.
Legislative frames, consistent organisational structures, and the sound governance of social policies, of course have a crucial importance for the promotion of social innovation in the field of elderly care.
We have to report too that in some cases the respect of the social workers’ rights is still weak. Where the working conditions are very stressful, the social impacts produced by European partnerships, and by the efforts of the practitioners involved, will be border in a short-term vision, limited to the persons directly involved in the experience (direct and indirect beneficiaries).
As members of the adult learning community we are aware of this risk, and we are probably losers in facing alone the challenges for improving the “surrounding” conditions, taking as example of good practice the partner organisation Hrafnista in Iceland. Only an overall improvement of the local conditions can enable in parallel new drives for social innovation, manly in this time of crisis when, by contrary, new paths and solutions should be put in place investing in high quality social care services.
For granting equal opportunities in all European regions, all agents involved have still a lot to do, and with the INNOMEC proposal we offer our little hopefully useful contribution. Let us know your feedback! [take part to our POLL N°5 on Innomec.eu]