Online Multiplier Event: ”The contribution of digital technology to the cognitive and physical improvement in people with Down Syndrome”

Press release

Training Program for promoting Active Ageing of people with Down Syndrome

DS-AGEING

DESCRIPTION OF THE ONLINE MULTIPLIER EVENT

On the 10th of November 2020 the team of Medical Physics Laboratory of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) (https://medphys.med.auth.gr/) successfully completed the Multiplier Event of the European project DS-AGEING ‘’Training Program for promoting Active Ageing of people with Down Syndrome’’, a project funded by the European Commission within the ERASMUS+ 2018 Programme, Key Action 2 – Strategic Partnerships for Adult Education.

DS-AGEING aims at increasing competences (attitudes, skills, knowledge) of people with Down Syndrome over 30 years old, professionals and families about how to improve the Well-Ageing (according to the Active Ageing Model) through an innovative training program.

The partnership of the ERASMUS+ DS-AGEING project was led by the Research Institute on Social Welfare Policy (POLIBIENESTAR) in Spain and composed by 6 other partners from Organizations and Higher Educational Institutes across 5 European countries: POLIBIENESTAR and ASINDOWN from Valencia, Spain; APPT21 from Lisbon, Portugal; Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) from Thessaloniki, Greece; ALDO-CET from Bailesti, Romania; and SPOMINCICA and DDSS from Ljubljana, Slovenia.

The event was held virtually and streamed live on our social media channels, in order to reach more stakeholders, raise awareness and disseminate the significant outcomes of the project. More than 55 stakeholders participated in the Multiplier event, including people with Down Syndrome, family members, caregivers, healthcare professionals as well as research associates working in the field of Assistive Technologies and the support of vulnerable people’ quality of life.

The main purpose of the event was to inform all participants about the contribution of Assistive Technologies in the physical and cognitive improvement of people with Down Syndrome. The event initiated with an in-depth presentation of important issues and situations related to people with Down Syndrome from a medical perspective, following a presentation of the research results from the deployment of the Integrated Healthcare System Long Lasting Memories Care (LLM Care) (https://www.llmcare.gr/en/home/), which combines physical and cognitive training- in people with Down Syndrome. Afterwards, a comprehensive presentation of the aims, methodology and results of the DS-AGEING training program was carried out while the e-Training platform was also demonstrated to the participants. Lastly, particular attention and importance was given in the endeavours and practices of Medical Physical Laboratory aiming at promoting social welfare and improving the quality of life of people that belong in vulnerable groups.

Overall, the event was considered very successful, as all participants were informed about the important contribution of Assistive Technologies to people with Down Syndrome. Additionally, the importance of such training programs, which aim at promoting Active Ageing and enhancing the cognitive and physical training of people with Down Syndrome, was highlighted. At the end of the event, a fruitful discussion was conducted where all participants, family members, healthcare professionals and research associates had the opportunity to actively exchange their views on the aforementioned themes.

Find more information: www.dsageing.eu