CAHA Conference Brings Experts Together for Dialogue on the Future of Health for Older Citizens
The Centre for Active and Healthy Ageing (CAHA) holds a successful conference focusing on preventing functional decline in the elderly through new research projects and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The proportion of older citizens in Denmark is rapidly increasing. According to Statistics Denmark’s population projections, by 2030, there will be 59% more people over the age of 80 than there were in 2020. This creates a challenge regarding the funding of healthcare and care services.
On Friday, 1 November 2024, the Centre for Active and Healthy Ageing (CAHA) hosted a major conference at the University of Southern Denmark, where 126 participants from across the country joined to discuss potential solutions to the upcoming challenges.
The conference aimed to present CAHA’s implementation projects from the past 12 years and the center’s current research results to stimulate dialogue on strategies for promoting active and healthy ageing.
"CAHA is dedicated to promoting active and healthy ageing through research that prevents functional decline and enhances older people’s quality of life. The center particularly focuses on the early detection of risk factors that can lead to functional decline, and on developing interventions that strengthen the health and functional ability of the elderly. The goal is to help each older individual maintain their independence and manage on their own for as long as possible," said Paolo Caserotti.
"CAHA’s vision is to create a society where older adults are seen as resourceful individuals who can contribute actively, rather than being viewed as an economic burden," he added.
One of the projects, EnRICH-HABITS, uses municipal data to detect older citizens with an increased risk of functional decline early on and implement preventive measures.
Additionally, projects such as SENATE and EUAPPTIVE were presented, which develop digital solutions for the prevention of functional decline. Join4Joy was also introduced, focusing on physical activity for older adults from ethnic minority backgrounds.
The model, developed in collaboration between the municipalities of Slagelse and Middelfart and the University of Southern Denmark, is already fully implemented in 13 Danish municipalities and one in Norway.
WIPP-360 received the Danish Local Government Association’s prevention 2024 award for its contribution to preventive home visits and is recommended by the Danish Health Authority.
"The goal is to ensure that older citizens remain active and independent, which will also relieve the healthcare system in the long term," said Paolo Caserotti.
"We hope that the conference participants were inspired to continue their efforts to bridge the gap between research and practice, so that we can collectively integrate new, useful knowledge and tools into the way healthcare systems operate in daily practice," he concluded.
Among the attendees were representatives from 23 Danish municipalities, the Danish Health Authority, the Velux Foundation, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, and several hospitals.
Photo: Mathias Skjoedt, CAHA
On Friday, 1 November 2024, the Centre for Active and Healthy Ageing (CAHA) hosted a major conference at the University of Southern Denmark, where 126 participants from across the country joined to discuss potential solutions to the upcoming challenges.
The conference aimed to present CAHA’s implementation projects from the past 12 years and the center’s current research results to stimulate dialogue on strategies for promoting active and healthy ageing.
Helping Older People Live Longer and More Independent Lives
Professor Paolo Caserotti, head of CAHA, opened the conference with a presentation on the center’s overall mission and vision."CAHA is dedicated to promoting active and healthy ageing through research that prevents functional decline and enhances older people’s quality of life. The center particularly focuses on the early detection of risk factors that can lead to functional decline, and on developing interventions that strengthen the health and functional ability of the elderly. The goal is to help each older individual maintain their independence and manage on their own for as long as possible," said Paolo Caserotti.
"CAHA’s vision is to create a society where older adults are seen as resourceful individuals who can contribute actively, rather than being viewed as an economic burden," he added.
Presentation of EU-Funded Projects
At the conference, participants were given insight into CAHA’s current EU-funded research projects, which focus on identifying older adults at high risk of functional decline.One of the projects, EnRICH-HABITS, uses municipal data to detect older citizens with an increased risk of functional decline early on and implement preventive measures.
Additionally, projects such as SENATE and EUAPPTIVE were presented, which develop digital solutions for the prevention of functional decline. Join4Joy was also introduced, focusing on physical activity for older adults from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Successful Screening Model to Identify Vulnerable Older People
Another key part of the conference was the presentation of the WIPP-360 model, a screening method to identify vulnerable older adults.The model, developed in collaboration between the municipalities of Slagelse and Middelfart and the University of Southern Denmark, is already fully implemented in 13 Danish municipalities and one in Norway.
WIPP-360 received the Danish Local Government Association’s prevention 2024 award for its contribution to preventive home visits and is recommended by the Danish Health Authority.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration is the Future for Active and Healthy Ageing
Paolo Caserotti expressed great satisfaction with the high turnout and engagement at the conference. He emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and looks forward to new research initiatives with Danish municipalities and international partners."The goal is to ensure that older citizens remain active and independent, which will also relieve the healthcare system in the long term," said Paolo Caserotti.
"We hope that the conference participants were inspired to continue their efforts to bridge the gap between research and practice, so that we can collectively integrate new, useful knowledge and tools into the way healthcare systems operate in daily practice," he concluded.
Among the attendees were representatives from 23 Danish municipalities, the Danish Health Authority, the Velux Foundation, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, and several hospitals.
Photo: Mathias Skjoedt, CAHA