By Jonas Bernitt & Elena Curtopassi
💡 SACRED is the abbreviation for “Sharing And Caring for at-Risk Elderly with Dementia or Disabilities”. Co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme for higher education, the project aims to develop a co-created E-Learning Platform for healthcare students and professionals, focusing on the care of older adults living with dementia and multimorbidity. Through applied research, field exchange, and cross-border cooperation, the project contributes to improved training and awareness in long-term care.
🇪🇸 From 24 to 27 November 2025, the partners of the European SACRED project met in Valencia, Spain, for the 3rd Transnational Project Meeting. The meeting was hosted by the Instituto de Investigación Polibienestar (University of Valencia) in cooperation with the Institut Valencià de Serveis Socials (IVASS) and took place at the historic Palacio de Pineda. The consortium was warmly welcomed by María José Rico, together with Silvia García and Tamara Alhambra.
(25–26 November) | Working sessions on the SACRED E-Learning Platform
The main focus of the meeting was the launch of Work Package 3, dedicated to the development of the SACRED E-Learning Platform. The objective is to create a digital learning environment that is accessible, practice-oriented and applicable across different European care contexts.
A first step within WP3 is the current creation of an E-Learning Design (requirements study). This process was presented and facilitated by the Veldacademie of Rotterdam. In this framework, design thinking workshops were organised, making the consortium think from the perspective of typical learners (students and professionals), as well as care recipients from different European contexts. During these sessions, partners jointly shaped a shared structure for the e-learning platform, covering key themes such as:
- person-centred and community-based care
- communication techniques and relationship building
- involvement of informal caregivers
- supportive social and physical environments
- professional self-care and resilience
The outcomes will be further refined in the coming months through a co-creation process involving the target groups and the project’s Advisory Board. The platform content builds on evidence-based guidelines and methods, combined with insights collected over the past year from students, teachers, older adults, informal caregivers and professionals across Europe.
(27 November) | Good practice visits in Valencia
Another element of the project meeting was the visit to local good practices in and around Valencia, allowing partners to connect theoretical concepts with real-life care settings.
The first visit took place at a residential care facility for older adults in Meliana, providing care and support for people living with dementia and multimorbidity. The second visit led the consortium to a Brain Injury Day Centre in the Ruzafa district, offering specialised, interdisciplinary support for people with acquired brain injury.
To summarise, the Transnational Project Meeting in Valencia marked an important milestone for the SACRED project. Partners returned home with clear directions for the next phase of the journey. In the beginning of 2026, all partners will start developing the individual lessons and modules for the platform.
The resulting E-Learning Platform will strengthen the competencies of formal caregivers and contribute to improving the quality of care for older adults across Europe. The platform is scheduled to be published in 2027.
Stay tuned!
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