Caring communities will be established in “living labs” at three different locations in German-speaking Switzerland. Although they will work independently, they will exchange experiences on a regular basis. Kick-off events will be held to encourage the participation of members from the local care community, local politicians, as well as patients, relatives and the civil society. First, a common typology of home care needs will be drawn up. Using co-creative methods, innovative models and offers will then be developed, implemented and evaluated locally. Technology solutions will be introduced as and when needed. Finally, the insights gained will be condensed into a message designed to inspire other interested stakeholders.
Holistic long-term care is an important prerequisite for enabling seniors with chronic conditions to remain in their homes for as long as possible. This long-term care encompasses not only health care, but also services such as cooking, cleaning and social support. Since current health policies focus primarily on health aspects, new concepts are needed. "Caring community" models can help close the gaps that exist in broad-based health care.
The aim of the study is, first, to fill the gaps in our knowledge of home care needs and services and, second, to develop, implement and evaluate models of caring communities which provide a broad range of home care services. The third aim of the study is to disseminate the study findings beyond the study setting. The ultimate aim is to contribute to the appreciation of care work as a key social task.
The study will provide not only a knowledge base on home care needs and care services but also real-world implementation case studies from three different regions. The results will be summarised in a toolbox and disseminated further. The study thus makes a relevant contribution to realising the vision of care as an important task for a democratic community.
Innovative Home Care Models for People with Comprehensive Care Needs: Caring Community Living Labs
