RESEARCH INSIGHTS FROM THE SACRED PROJECT

All resources were collected across six European regions and selected for their relevance, effectiveness, and adaptability. They reflect a wide variety of promising approaches in areas such as psychosocial interventions, caregiver support, and dementia-friendly environments.

 

Examples include:

• Guidelines such as the ESPEN Guidelines on Nutrition in Dementia, the Flemish Dementia Plan, and national diagnostic care pathways for dementia.
• Interdisciplinary Methods like the STIP-method Personalized Integrated Stepped-Care Method to Prevent and Treat Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Persons With Dementia. Multidisciplinary models for supporting home-dwelling older adults and their caregivers.
• Interventions such as Cognitive behavioral therapy, Behavioral therapy and System therapy.

 

 

Why context matters

It is essential to understand how health and social care systems operate in each country. Structures, funding models, referral pathways, and professional roles vary greatly.

Cultural values, such as the role of the family and attitudes toward ageing, also shape care delivery. Resource availability (e.g., home care, dementia services) differs significantly. Tailoring learning content to these local realities ensures that learners receive relevant, practical, and realistic guidance.

For these reasons, each SACRED partner conducted a context analysis, examining how care for older adults is organised in their region. This included demographic trends, legal frameworks, funding systems, care structures, and cultural norms. The results were synthesised into a comparative report on ageing, frailty, and care systems across Europe.

 

Mapping local good practices

In parallel with the development of the evidence-based practice database and the comparative context analysis, the SACRED project partners also collected and mapped local good practices from their regions. These include community-based initiatives, innovative care models, and practical tools that are being used in real-world settings. All good practices have been summarised in a publicly available and interactive map, that can be accessed free of charge.

 

From evidence to competencies

Drawing on both the evidence-based practice database and the comparative context analysis, the SACRED team formulated ten key competencies. These reflect the core knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to support older adults with dementia, disabilities, and complex needs. They guide the development of SACRED’s international learning activities:

1. Promote functioning by supporting autonomy and habituation, shaping the environment to fit individual needs and optimizing quality of life.
2. Collaborate with others through multi-, inter-, or transdisciplinary teamwork
3. Apply psychiatric expertise, this is currently the most significant knowledge gap.
4. Work methodically, using structured and evidence-based approaches
5. Integrate care by connecting physical, mental, and social dimensions
6. Monitor implementation and the degree to which approaches are applied.
7. Know the person, their biography and relationships
8. Use and measure indicators to evaluate outcomes and progress
9. Explain life course principles at every level, past experiences shape current and future health and wellbeing
10. Organize access to knowledge so that information is available when needed

 

The mentioned insights and competencies form the basis for the next phase of SACRED: the co-creation and pilot testing of international e-learning modules tailored to diverse care contexts across Europe.