Innovation Showcases
Promoting and Implementing Active Aging in Italy: The Case of “Abitare Villa Mater”, a Community Center for Active Longevity View Digital Media
Innovation Showcase Franca Maino
Europe's ageing population is a major challenge. The number of people aged 80+ is expected to rise from 143 million in 2020 to 426 million by 2025. In Italy, where older adults represent a significant proportion of the population, innovative models are needed to promote active, healthy and inclusive ageing beyond traditional care-based approaches. This paper presents Abitare Villa Mater, a pilot project in Rivoli (a municipality within the urban area of Turin). The initiative promotes collaborative living for self-sufficient individuals over 60. It encourages social interaction, cognitive and physical activity, and community engagement. The project aims to delay or prevent health decline. The initiative provides high-quality living conditions by balancing personal privacy with shared experiences and mutual support. It integrates social sciences and architecture through participatory and innovative methods, including multidisciplinary working groups, stakeholder consultations, public meetings, and resident interviews to assess needs and expectations. The initiative is funded and promoted by a local foundation, whose support has been crucial to both design and implementation. Despite its small scale, Abitare Villa Mater is a valuable resource for integrated social, cultural, and preventive initiatives supporting active ageing. The project combines individual services with services co-designed and co-produced with individuals and the wider community. By creating safe, engaging, and health-promoting environments, the project redefines ageing as a participation and contribution to society phase. The project also represents an innovative service model. It aligns with a welfare paradigm shift from a reactive, demand-driven system to a proactive and generative one.
Older Persons Grant Collection Points as Opportunity for a Hypertension Reduction Intervention: The Know Your Numbers Qualitative Study in South Africa View Digital Media
Innovation Showcase Jane Simmonds
Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in South Africa (sa), particularly among individuals aged 60 and older. However, awareness of hypertension remains low within this demographic. Queues for collecting older persons grants in SA present a unique opportunity to address this gap. The know your numbers (KYN) qualitative study aimed to: (i)assess older persons' knowledge and experiences of hypertension, (ii) identify challenges and opportunities during the KYN intervention, (iii) evaluate the acceptability of the intervention. Between April 2021 and October 2022, 26 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 214 older persons (71.5% women) in rural Mpumalanga province, SA, who collected grants from six locations. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes. Before the intervention, many participants were unaware of hypertension symptoms and viewed it as a lifestyle disease. Adherence to medication was hindered by stigma and financial barriers. Many older persons relied on traditional healers, and access to hypertension treatment was difficult due to the distance to clinics and the cost of transport. Clinical services were often perceived as unsatisfactory. Despite challenges in understanding educational materials, participants valued the blood pressure screening provided by the intervention and suggested expanding the initiative to include services like medication distribution and monitoring of other metabolic diseases, such as diabetes. The KYN intervention was well-received by older persons in grant collection queues, leading to improved hypertension knowledge and awareness. These queues offer a promising avenue for expanding screening and referral services for other chronic conditions.
GOGOcare: Empowering Grandmothers to Enhance Maternal and Child Health Outcomes View Digital Media
Innovation Showcase Nkanyiso Khumalo, Jane Simmonds
GOGOcare addresses a critical gap in maternal and child health interventions in South Africa by recognising the vital role of grandmothers who raise over 4 million children. By providing grandmothers with best practice maternal and child health information using appropriate and culturally sensitive resources and fostering supportive networks, GOGOcare aims to enhance maternal and child health outcomes. The GOGOcare intervention is a collaboration with a South African programme, Flourish Grow Great, currently offering community-based perinatal support and information classes to pregnant women and mothers. Following formative research to identify areas of maternal and child health interest conducted with ten grandmothers living with grandchildren under three years or pregnant daughters/ granddaughters, the flourish curriculum was adapted for grandmothers based on the findings. topics of interest included nutrition, health, changes in pregnancy, exclusive breastfeeding, mental health support and the importance of play. Monitoring and evaluation data were collected through interviews at baseline and upon completion of the sessions. Grandmothers want to participate positively in pregnancy and childcare. Grandmothers attending sessions have expressed strong support for the programme and embraced the opportunity to participate and learn. Results from the pilot include increased maternal and child health knowledge among grandmothers leading to improved care and support for new families and enhanced health outcomes for the babies, mothers and grandmothers. Grandmothers play a vital role in child health. Providing grandmothers with information on best practices in maternal and child health is likely to improve maternal and child health.
iGOGO- Bridging the Digital Divide Between Grandmothers and Grandchildren: The Grey Digital Divide View Digital Media
Innovation Showcase Bradley Chauke, Jane Simmonds
Over six million children in South Africa live in multigenerational households with grandmothers. iGOGO offers an innovative solution to mitigating the digital divide between older persons and youth in poorly resourced communities through basic internet training. This project aims to equip grandmothers with essential digital technology skills and knowledge to support internet access to online educational and other platforms in households ultimately improving the life outcomes of themselves, the children they are raising and their communities. iGOGO consists of twenty sessions held to address digital issues facing grandmothers and grandchildren. These include cyber security, online banking and shopping, learning platforms, study applications and whatsapp. A tablet is provided to each participating grandmother on completion of the course allowing the tablet to become a household asset facilitating access to the internet and online learning for children in the household. Providing essential digital technology skills and enabling grandmothers to confidently navigate the digital world and access online resources and reducing the digital divide within their households is critical to improved health and life outcomes. Improved educational access for children being raised by grandmothers through supporting access to online educational platforms and resources will have the long-term impact of improving educational outcomes and opportunities. Training grandmothers in digital skills can significantly enhance their confidence and ability to navigate technology, fostering independence and supporting their grandchild’s access to the internet. Investing in the digital empowerment of grandmothers is crucial for bridging the digital divide and improving educational access and outcomes for grandchildren.
