02.10.2024
It has been two weeks since the 7th International Conference on evidence-based policies and long-term care of the International Long-term Care Policy Network, co-organized with the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, was held in Bilbao.
The event was attended by nearly 250 delegates to share the latest research, policy and practice on long-term care, and seeks to strengthen the links between researchers, policy makers and professionals in the care sector to advance the improvement of care systems around the world through evidence-based policy making.
From Matia we had the opportunity to participate in several of the spaces programmed in this meeting.
Álvaro García Soler, researcher at Matia Instituto, was one of the speakers at a panel on "Innovative approaches to improve the mental well-being and resilience of informal caregivers" sharing the findings and lessons learned from the INCARE Project.
For her part, Elena del Barrio, co-director of Matia Instituto, spoke about Edadismo and the experience of aging at a table on "Situation and needs of people over 50 years old in Bizkaia".
Finally, Amparo Muñoz and Ángela Blázquez, resident and professional of the Lamourous residence, respectively, spoke at a table that addressed the change in the care model through the new deinstitutionalization strategy.
From her experience as a participant in the Como en Casa (Like at home) project, Amparo values very positively the changes that have been introduced in her center and asks for a relaxation of the rules, wider ratios, and better working conditions for the assistants, as well as promoting independent living, carrying out "activities that make us feel useful" and the integration of families and the community to these care spaces.
Ámparo and Ángela have been distinguished with the Josh Weiner Award for the best presentation of this congress.
About the project
"Just like at home" is a project led by Matia and Matia Institute. It is configured from an innovative perspective in the understanding and articulation of long-term care, betting on a new model of Governance, characterized by its ecosystemic, holistic, territorialized and community-based approach, which integrates all the support and care available in a specific environment: families, social and health services, voluntary action, local commerce, temporary or permanent care accommodation and any other support that, coming from the community environment, can promote autonomy and good care of people, wherever they are.
"Como en casa" is among the 20 pilot projects within the framework of the "State Strategy for Deinstitutionalization" launched by the Secretary of State for Social Rights of the Ministry of Social Rights and Agenda 2030, with funding from the Next Generation
Funds and the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. The shared objective of all the projects is to give a boost to the transformation of community services and the model of support and care, placing the rights and the life project of each person at the center.
