The ACE project recognises the significant role that municipalities play in the delivery of homecare services, especially in countries like Denmark and Sweden. Municipalities are often the primary entities responsible for providing essential care services to the elderly, and their involvement in the ACE project is crucial for preparing both formal and informal healthcare providers for the innovative homecare solutions of the future.
Several municipalities have shown their commitment to the ACE project by signing letters of support. Lund municipality, Nacka municipality, Lidingö municipality in Sweden, and Esbjerg Kommune in Denmark are among those actively supporting this innovative project. Lund municipality, in particular, took on a leading role in hosting one of the ACE Quadruple-helix workshops, focusing on identifying the needs of the future.
Niclas Snygg, a representative from Lund municipality, emphasised the challenges faced by municipalities in Sweden regarding the ageing population. He highlighted the demographic challenge, where an increasing number of people are getting older, while the working-age population is decreasing. In response to these challenges, Lund municipality is actively seeking new and innovative ways of maintaining the high standard of welfare that currently exists and ensuring its continuation into the future.
Snygg emphasised: “We in Lund want to be involved and contribute to developing future homecare. In Lund, we are Sweden’s leader when it comes to mobile security alarms, and we are one of the first municipalities to develop a digital homecare unit. We have a clear focus on strengthening the health and well-being of Lund's seniors. Our watchwords are independence, activity, and security.”
Lund municipality's clear focus on strengthening the health and well-being of seniors is evident in their watchwords: independence, activity, and security. By actively participating in the ACE project, Lund and other supporting municipalities are not only addressing current challenges but are also working towards innovative solutions that will ensure the elderly population can age with dignity and receive the care they need within the comfort of their own homes.
In addition to supporting municipalities, Höganäs municipality in Sweden, together with Aarhus municipality and Vesthimmerland municipality, both in Denmark, are playing integral roles as project partners in the ACE project. The municipalities will for example act as hosts for testing new innovative solutions at the homes of the older adults during the project´s test phase. Aarhus municipality will also lead a work package called: Adapting to the Future, and serves as the activity leader for Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Knowledge exchange events and ACE Technology Adaptation workshops. Meanwhile, Vesthimmerland takes the lead in defining critical homecare adaptations and spearheads The Homecare Jobs of the Future campaign. Their active involvement underscores the collaborative effort among municipalities and project partners to drive innovation and shape the future of elderly care, ensuring its adaptability to the evolving needs of an ageing population.
The ACE project, with its collaborative approach and the active involvement of municipalities and partners, is laying the foundation for a future where innovative solutions and new ways of working transform elderly care, making it more accessible, efficient, and tailored to the evolving needs of an ageing population. As the project progresses, it is expected that the insights and innovations developed will set a precedent for homecare delivery across Europe and beyond.
