A project by the M3O and Digital Care research groups will create ICT tools to support caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease

Researchers in the M3O research group (Methodology, methods, models and outcomes of health and social sciences) and Digital Care at UVic-UCC will be coordinating an Erasmus+ project to develop ICT improvements designed to make everyday life easier for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients. The study will be led by M3O researcher Anna Ramon, and will involve the academic and business world and caregivers in applying new products and services.

The tools they will develop will primarily be used to improve the quality of care that informal caregivers provide for people with the disease, to enable them build a social support network for each other, and to help them stay healthy. The caregivers' involvement in the design of the tools by means of co-creation processes will be one of the project's distinguishing features and according to Anna Ramon, "will ensure that the products that it creates are the most suitable for their needs and ensure greater usability and efficiency as a result." The ultimate goal, says the researcher, is to "improve the quality of life of people with Alzheimer's disease."

Partners from four different countries
The project, which will formally begin on 1 January, will also involve partners from Portugal, the United Kingdom and Belgium, mainly from universities with bachelor's degree programmes in the areas of health and social care and technology. According to Ramon, coordinating a group like this one is "a great opportunity to grow as researchers in terms of the method and contributing to getting results."

The UVic-UCC team consists of members of the two research groups and two faculties "to cover the two areas of the project: the health and social aspect, and the technological aspect." As well as Anna Ramon, Josan Merchan, Eduard Minobes and Montserrat Romero from the M3O research group and the Faculty of Health Sciences and Welfare will be participating. Cristina Borralleras and Sergi Grau from the Digital Care research group and the Faculty of Science and Technology will be taking part.

This is the first project that UVic-UCC has coordinated within the framework of the Knowledge Alliances call for the Erasmus+ funding programme, which promotes transnational activities between higher education institutions and companies.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 50 million people worldwide have dementia, and about 10 million new cases are identified each year. Dementia is one of the main causes of disability and dependence among the elderly all over the world, and has a physical, psychological, social and economic impact not only on the patients, but also on their caregivers and families and on society in general.