This project aims to:

(1) develop a virtual reality application. It will focus on elders’ needs and how the caregivers can help them without risking injuries for the caregiver and the person in need;

(2) develop an e-learning application. It will focus on the principles of safe transferring techniques, such as body awareness, friction, shear, weight transfer and others;

(3) develop a training program, guidelines, and tools from the best practices. It will focus on the content – teaching safe transferring techniques, the use of assisted living technologies and safety within the rehabilitative mindset, for the older adult, but also the way to teach this – meaning pedagogy, didactics and how to ensure transferability from the classroom to the work-life; and

(4) create an Open Educational Resource to make the above-mentioned outputs available after the end of the project.

A tangible example. An elder with impaired physical function needs help to get from the bed to the wheelchair. The caregivers are the providers of this service, which has been characterized as a physically demanding job. As a result, most of the caregivers are suffering from back pain, attrition or even work injuries. 

Needs. There is a need to share knowledge and develop new tools and methods for teaching safe transferring techniques in Europe. The population is getting older and needs more care, the caregivers are being fewer, and their workload is increasing. To protect their work environment, we need educators to teach safe transferring techniques on a high level and peer-to-peer programs to spread the new knowledge. We need to develop new digital tools and methods to teach safe transferring techniques and to implement assisted living technologies. We need to help older adults to maintain or improve their level of functioning and safety by working with a rehabilitative mindset.

Target Group – Nicosia Municipality. We aim to holistically improve the work environment around older adults at the Nicosia Municipality area by: (1) targeting caregivers in the nursing homes/hospitals of the Nicosia Municipality; (2) targeting educators and students who teach and learn safe transferring techniques in the universities of the Nicosia Municipality; and (3) targeting the elderly in need who live at the Nicosia’s Municipality area.