Problem addressed

Europe is facing a rapidly ageing population. This demographic change, combined with increasing pressure on healthcare systems, highlights the urgent need for structural reforms in the field of long-term care (LTC). Siel bleu is already present in several European countries and supporting more than 250 000 people per week. This project is in line with Siel Bleu's strategy to support more and more frail or LTC people throughout Europe. The action takes place at local level.

Innovative solution

The project “Improving autonomy and global well-being through Adapted Physical Activity - By Siel Bleu” (VS-2020-0257), also known as ‘Moov&Smile’, was selected for its innovative approach to the challenges and issues of people in LTC by strengthening the role of health prevention for the most vulnerable in Europe and supporting a large number of people in long-term care (chronic diseases, people with disabilities, respiratory disorders...).

Moov&Smile's objective is to strengthen health prevention for a large number of people in need of LTC thanks to APA programs (chronic disease, people with disabilities, respiratory diseases...) The objective is to demonstrate the positive impact of the widespread use of Adapted Physical Activity (APA) on a national scale as well as encouraging and inspiring the deployment of APA in new European countries. The pilot programme reached 1,000 people. Each programme included innovative aspects, as they were adapted to different LTC pathologies.
 

Key results and benefits

5 countries took part to the pilot phase: 3 countries were Siel Bleu is already established (Ireland, Spain and Belgium) and two new (Germany and Portugal). 

Local partnerships have been built to reach the objectives of the projec and focused on different aspects and targets of LTC (hospital, community dwelling and nursing homes or care centers) for a period of 18 months, with a 12 weeks training block.

Fundación Siel Bleu conducted this experiment in partnership with Bellvitge Hospital (Catalogna) for people with Long-Lasting Covid Symptoms. Siel Bleu Irland has designed a program specifically tailored to Parkinson's Disease. To complete the LTC approach, GymGANA (Belgium), Germany and Portugal have implemented programs dedicated to people in nursing home or establishment dedicated to taking care of people in LTC. In total more than 50 partners have taken part to the project.

Gathering all information, best practices and policy recommandations on APA and LTC, a 84-pages White Paper has been written. It gives key insights from pilots and experimentations. This document is enhanced by contributions from project partners such as the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the Head of National Old-Age Insurance Fund, and the French Ministerial Delegate for Social and Solidarity Economy. It also includes meaningful contributions from the project's field partners and participants. The document was launched at the final conference in Paris, followed by a communication campaign to raise awareness on the importance of prevention through physical activity for people in long-term care at the european level.

Potential for mainstreaming

To create practical cross-border cooperation with partners. At local level, the effects of this project are concrete and sustainable, with the legal creation of two structures and local jobs, one in Germany and the other in Portugal. The creation of these structures and the continuation of partnerships will enable more participants to benefit from APA at local level in the short term. Development at national level is a long-term goal.
To develop new innovative programmes to meet the needs associated with certain pathologies in the field of dependency. APA program participants were the first to benefit from the impact of this European project.Positive impacts in terms of physical and psychological well-being.