Independent living for longer

By 2050, European Union will have experienced an overall increase of 70% in the population exceeding the age of 65, while the equivalent increase for persons over 80 will reach 170% (source: The Public Health Portal of European Commission). This fact in conjunction with the significant changes in family structure is considered to be one of the most bewildering challenges of our era: health systems around Europe have to be reorganized according to the increased needs deriving from the ageing of the population. Such a reform must align with the sustained viability of the health systems and the promotion of prosperous living conditions for the elderly.    

Providing care to healthy and energetic older people is pinpointed as the most significant challenge of the coming years. Facilitating independent living conditions for them is actually a way of bringing about an improvement of their life in general. The term independent living refers to the philosophy in which the elderly should be able to control their own life and make daily choices as younger people usually do. Individuals who adjust their living conditions according to this model are actively involved in the organization and delivery of the support towards them, in respect to their specific needs, skills and living conditions

Since the late 1970s, KMOP has been engaged in activities aiming to improve the quality of life of elderly and to promote independent living conditions. In 1979, KMOP was assigned by the Greek Ministry of Health & Social Welfare to design and set up the first Open Care Community centres (KAPI) in various areas of the Attiki region, Greater Athens (Kareas, Vironas, Melissia and Perama). KMOP successfully operated the above Centres until 1983, when they were handed over to local authorities. KMOP still maintains a connection with these Centres, in an advisory role.

In the years that followed, KMOP’S social services consistently provided advisory services to elderly people, focused on the development of innovative actions and the exchange of elderly- centered “know how”. Indicative of this is the program “Connecting generations”, carried out in Ymittos Municipality in Athens, during the period 1994- 96, as well as the participation of the organization in more recent programs, which promote the independent living of elderly through the use of ICT technologies. Current projects are, for example, the European projects HOPE - Smart HOme for Elderly People, AGNES – User Sensitive Home based Systems for Successful Ageing in a Networked Society, and TRAINUTRI - TRAINing and NUTRItion senior social platform. All of these projects fall under the newly established Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) Joint Programme.

Recently, KMOP was assigned by the Prefecture of Attiki to implement two “Help at Home” programs in the Piraeus and Athens area for 65 and 80 elderly beneficiaries respectively.