<< Background >>Around 10 million persons in Europe, usually older than 65, live with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and other forms of dementia and a growth is expected (Alzheimer Europe Yearbook, 2019). The cerebral changes come with a general deterioration of the health status. Evidence suggests that amongst persons with dementia (PWD) there is a high prevalence of comorbid medical conditions and related impairments (Sanderson et al., 2002), as it may adversely affect the clinical care and undermine a patient’s ability to self-manage chronic conditions and engage in health maintenance activities (Bunn et al. 2016). Along the first stages of the disease, levels 2 to 4 of the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), PWD may begin to have difficulties living independently and they would need some kind of support and care, while they still retain their ability in most of basic and simple instrumental activities days of life (ADLs). According to the Quality of Life Model, this support must be based in empowering them towards self-management, being a process to “help people gain control, including people taking the initiative, solving problems and taking decisions” (ENOPE 2012).Mobile Health (mHealth) includes applications (apps) that may connect to medical devices or sensors (e.g., bracelets or watches) as well as personal guidance systems, health information and medication reminders. mHealth apps cover various technological solutions, that among others measure vital signs such as heart rate, blood glucose level, blood pressure, body temperature and brain activities and deliver communication, information, motivation and training tools for keeping or improving the health condition (WHO, 2012). To date, in addition to general mHealth technologies, there are specific applications for dementia healthcare used in cognitive training, screening, health and safety monitoring, leisure and socialization, and navigation. (Yousaf et al., 2019) mHealth contributes to the empowerment of persons with mild dementia (hereinafter PWD), as they could manage their health more actively, live more independently thanks to self-assessments or remote monitoring solutions and also receive support from caregivers and healthcare professionals in a less invasive environment (https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/mhealth). Eventually it will help to stay longer in the home setting before needing care in institutions. However, the adoption of mHealth technologies by PWD is very low at EU level, due to several barriers, including those for any elder persons, whose “acceptance criteria” focus on; perception of usefulness; user requirements; self-efficacy; sense of self and control; privacy and confidentiality; cost (Spann&Stewart, 2018). In addition, PWD faces specifics challenges, among others;•Lack of awareness about the benefits of mHealth and how to apply it for their own self-management.•They withdraw from challenging situations and feel embarrassment when being confronted with new and complex situations (GDS)•mHealth solutions can cause dexterity limitations and leads to distressing behavior (Yousaf et al., 2020)•Lack of transference methods directly addressed and adapted to PWD<< Objectives >>mHEALTH-AD is launched with the main objective of increasing the competences of PWD (GDS 2-4) for adopting mHealth technologies.Specific objectives:-Increasing self-management and empowerment of PWD regarding their health condition-Transference of adapted information about existing affordable mHealth technologies selected based on the general and specific acceptance criteria and how to use them-Development of a training methodology based on “learning by doing” and “gamification” where PWD can be trained in a “friendly” environment, reducing their fears, concerns and reservations to the mHealth technologies before they can use it in the real world. -Development of a Digital Serious Game which will motivate them to be engaged with mHealth and increase their digital skills.According to that, mHEALTH-AD will get the next impacts in the population of persons with mild dementia (PWD)-They will increase their self-management and empowerment-They will improve their health condition-They will increase their digital skills-They will increase their resilience in the framework of health emergencies, like those related with the COVID-19 pandemic.We could distinguish among different kind of impacts:Short Term:100 PWD (20 in Germany, Spain, Slovenia, Greece and Turkey) will participate in the Pilot Validation Actions, and, this way, they will increase their competences for adopting mHealth solutions.4.500 persons (1.500 in Germany, 1.000 in Slovenia and Greece and 500 Spain and Turkey and Greece) including PWD, professionals working with PWD, formal and informal caregivers, health professionals and other stakeholders related with the quality of life of PWD and/or the Mobile Health (mHealth) will be aware, through multiplier events and dissemination actions to be carried on through the project website, newsletters, leaflets, etc…Long Term: 200 persons will be trained and will increase their competences for adopting mHealth solutions (40 in Germany, Spain, Slovenia, Greece and Turkey) yearly during the 5 years after the completion of the project using the Project Results4.500 persons (1.500 in Germany, 1.000 in Slovenia and Greece and 500 Spain and Turkey and Greece) will be aware yearly during the 5 years after the completion of the project, through multiplier events and dissemination actions to be carried on through the project website, newsletters, leaflets, etc…<< Implementation >>Through the execution of this Project the next main outcomes will be obtained;PR1. CO-CREATED METHODOLOGICAL GUIDEA Methodological Guide will be developed with the main objective of determining the key contents, methodologies and tools needed for increasing the competences related to the adoption of mobile health (mHealth) technologies by persons with mild dementia (PWD). It will be developed with the direct involvement and contributions from PWD, as end-users, who will help in the determination of the definitive approach to be used for the development of further Project Results of the Training Program, including key contents, methodologies and tools to be included.PR2. DESIGNED EXPERIENTIAL TRAINING ACTIVITIES Designed Experiential Training Activities (DETA) will be designed for increasing the awareness and competences on PWD about the use of mobile health (mHealth) technologies based in a learning by doing approach, where they will be involved in situations of health self-management where they will acquire competences through the real use of mHEALTH solutions. This Project Result will be addressed to TRAINERS (mainly caregivers, relatives or health professionals), as it will include all the information needed for successfully leading the training process with the trainees (PWD).PR3. TRAINING MATERIALS Following the specifications set in the Methodological Guide (PR1), a set Training Materials will be developed for TRAINEES (PWD) for being used along the implementation of the Experiential Training Activities (PR2). They will support the learning process on competences of PWD for increasing their health self-management supported by mHealth solutions.Training Materials will be developed mainly in audiovisual format (videos, images, infographics, etc.) to facilitate the learning experience and overcome possible learning difficulties of PWD, although written materials (MSN Word, PDF, PowerPoints, case studies, best practices, assignments, etc.) will also be developed, adapted in content and in form to PWD.PR4. DIGITAL SERIOUS GAMEA Digital Serious Game will be designed and developed to be used by PWD in order to better understand the concepts related to mHealth, their benefits, increase their motivation and also check their knowledge about good health habits.The game framework will be about creating an Avatar with the main characteristics of a PWD and care for its health through monitoring health-related data, simulating that they are send by the Avatar by means of mHealth solutions. Topics mentioned during the game sessions will be based on the Experiential Training Activities (PR2) and the relevant Training materials (PR3)PR5. e-TRAINING PLATFORMAn e-Training Platform (PR5) will be developed supporting the training experience, adapted to PWD, fully customized to the training framework, including specific functions for enhancing the implementation of the Experimental Training Activities (PR2) and the structured access to the Training Materials (PR3) depending on the specific training needs of each PWD and linked to the mHEALTH-AD Serious Game (PR4)A set of VALIDATION PILOT ACTIONS will be implemented in all countries with 100 PWD (20 in Germany, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Greece), where the project results (PR2, PR3, PR4 and PR5) will be implemented and possible improvements will be implemented before the end of the project.6 NATIONAL MULTIPLIER EVENTS will be implemented and all the project results will be introduced to relevant national stakeholders.<< Results >>Through the execution of this Project the next main outcomes will be obtained;PR1. CO-CREATED METHODOLOGICAL GUIDEPR2. DESIGNED EXPERIENTIAL TRAINING ACTIVITIES PR3. TRAINING MATERIALS PR4. DIGITAL SERIOUS GAMEPR5. e-TRAINING PLATFORM

The overall goal of DoCMA is to enhance international research on Disorders of Consciousness (DoC) by strengthen the collaboration among project participants to leverage the shared scientific and expert know-how in the field. The partnerships will be instrumental in addressing, therefore, the following specific objectives: Specific Objective 1) Consolidating of a joint international scientific and innovation programme for developing research projects on DoC diagnosis, evaluation and management of patients. Specific Objective 2) Establishing a standardised methodology, common approach and data sharing resources to enable data access and research collaborations concerning DoC. Specific Objective 3) Contributing to transfer of knowledge and quality of life of the individuals, by generating new services, technologies and/or products to respond to the society needs concerning DoC. In short, this action will increase the scientific competence of the consortium members at the international level in DoC research and clinical practice, enhancing the transfer of knowledge and professional skills on evidence-based interventions and validated technology for a better management of patients. To reach the mentioned goal, the partnership is composed by ten partners from different countries in Europe (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Spain), covering a wide range of expertise, and bringing together academic and non-academic entities.

With an increasingly growing population in Europe, cognitive impairments as well as heart diseases are a major social and health issue. 1.2 million people in Europe are affected by Parkinson's disease (PD) while Alzheimer’s disease remains one of the biggest global public health challenges our generation is facing, while Cardiovascular disease represented the 31% of all global deaths in 2016. Based on these facts, the affecTive basEd iNtegrateD carE for betteR Quality of Life TeNDER project will create an integrated care ecosystem for assisting people with chronic diseases of Alzheimer’s (AD), Parkinson’s (PD) and comorbidity with Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) through the use of affect based micro tools. These microservices will recognise the mood of a person and thus adapt the system’s probes to the person’s needs via a multi-sensorial system, even in the most severe cases, and match with clinical (from Electronic Health Records EHRs) and clerical patient information, while preserving privacy, monitoring the ethical principles, providing data protection and security, with the result of an increased Quality of Life (QoL). In addition, interactive communication and social services will strength the elderly support, extending their autonomy and care supply chain. TeNDER will perform 5 large scale pilots, involving 5 user partners and 1500+ TeNDER final users in 4 different European regions, with at least 735 patients (+40% in the patients control group, making a total of 1030 patients), 85 health professionals (physicians mainly), 30 social workers, 570 caregivers (professional and relatives) and 60 other staff (clerks, Hospital IT support, etc.), to provide tailor suited integrated care services to promote wellbeing and health recovery. TeNDER will provide 4 different scenarios according to the patients pathways (home, daycare centre, rehabilitation centre/rooms, and hospital).

Advancements in mechanical engineering and automation technologies have led to global expectations for robotic devices in rehabilitation to cope with a forecast of global ageing and shortage in clinical professionals in the near future. In particular, stroke patients often have to go through extensive rehabilitation or lose daily skills required for an independent self-determined life due to motor deficits. In contrast to classical physical therapists, robotic systems are able to tirelessly and precisely apply intense manual labour, while accurately measuring performance and improvements of the patient. Active exoskeletons meet these requirements and possess the additional advantage of non-stationary design that allows for flexible training and mobility of the patient. Preliminary studies indicate that the training efficiency can be improved if, in addition to the guidance by the exoskeleton, the users motor functions are actively controlled using functional electrical stimulation (FES). Such hybrid systems are advantageous because the users’ own muscular activity initialise the movements and are not passively guided through an external force. However, the required control which coordinates the active exoskeleton and stimulation for the human motor functions, especially in terms of dexterity skills necessary for activities of daily living, is more complex due to the unsolved questions on shared control and the missing models of the human motor function with respect to FES. Thus, the ReHyb project designs an upper-body hybrid neuroprosthesis using cooperative control strategies based on data-driven system identification and probabilistic estimation techniques for the internal human states, namely digital twin of a user. Our goal is a patient-specific, assist-as-needed device which maximises the training efficiency during home-based rehabilitation as means of serious gaming, and offers a pleasant user experience by supporting patients in daily life activities.