Personal Care Giving (PCG) services for People with Disabilities and Older People: mobile training with a gaming component

Mourlas, C.*, Papavasiliou, S.*, Van Isacker, K.***University of Athens / **PhoenixKM

The story• Age and disability are strongly correlated: An

estimated 45 million people in Europe (15% of the EU population) have a long-standing health problem or disability (LSHPD). 70% of them will be over 60 by 2020.

• Estimates put the total size of people in need of a PCG at 1% of all people with disabilities, so a real need of 450.000 European citizens.

• Elderly and PwD, especially those with mobility & sensory impairment depend considerably on Personal Caregivers (PCGs).

• PCF key for the self-determination.

The story• PCGs need variety of skills (nursing and first

aid qualifications, personal care, interpersonal, etc.).

• While this assistance is crucial in ensuring a daily quality of life, it is still quantitatively and qualitatively a huge problem.

• PCG education/training is basically non existent in EU countries, and on VET level.

• Most PCGs are low qualified, and needtrained on the field, thus making it a very laborious and a tricky "adventure" for the core beneficiaries: PwD and older people.

Project consortium• Gazi University (Turkey) –

project coordinator• PhoenixKM BVBA

(Belgium)• Interprojects (Bulgaria)• Min. of Fam. & Soc. Policy,

General Dir. of Serv. for E & PwD (Turkey)

• University of Athens (Greece)

• Europäischer VerbandBeruflicher Bildungsträger(Germany)

Planned outcomesA dedicated PCG curriculum and relevant training materialfor different disabilities (including those associated with aging), applicable in every country in the EU and beyond, provided under a creative commons license (so "free") and in accordance with transparency of qualifications and competences and ECVET;An innovative online and mobile training platform, with a gaming component that will allow for an interactive learning experience anytime anywhere (PC, smartphone and tablet PC -both Android- based online learning platform/application), multilingual, and provided freely to VET centres and stakeholders;Piloting with end-users (low skilled people, care workers) and beneficiaries (PwD and older people) in Flanders (Belgium), Bulgaria, Germany and Turkey;An M-CARE portal that will bring together relevant information and services on personal assistance, as well as host a community for PCG trainers, learners and beneficiaries.

• The types of training currently in use:▫ Individual interviews / Group discussions, print material,

practical training similar to internships, legislation-professional knowledge, in-service training, PowerPoint slides, online.

• The training centres suggested the following types for PCG training: ▫ Practical training / Training in real environment▫ Online training▫ Personal communication program▫ Individual forms of trainings for special needs ▫ Video▫ Group training

Current Training practices

The flow…

• Learn anytime, anywhere▫ Mobile▫ Internet connected

• Practical examples supported by:▫ Images▫ Video▫ text

• Provide PCG with basic knowledge about ICT based AT (Assistive Technology) knowledge▫ App will incorporate training and educational material

about ICT-AT (from ATLEC project).

Desire to…

Technical…

• Flexible content management▫ Online CMS connected with app via web

services• Free if possible▫ Usage of OSS: WordPress CMS and Android

APK

Multilingual content

• The M-Care application will offer content in Turkish, Bulgarian, Dutch, German and Greek. After launching the application users will be prompted to select their language using buttons illustrated with the respective flags.

• Will a previous setting be remembered, or should I indicate every time the language?

Multilingual content

Multilingual content

Wizard• The application will offer a wizard which will guide

the user into finding the training material he/she needs. This feature will take into consideration situational parameters (for example: the nature of task needed to be performed, location, possible equipment or assistive technologies, possible restrictions, e.tc.) and parameters related to the person that requires assistance (type of disability, age, e.tc.).

• The user, after having defined the aforementioned parameters, will be presented with a list of available training modules that meet the set criteria.

Multilingual content

Profile based search

• The users will also have the option to perform a profile based search.

• This feature, after gathering parameters, such as the fields of interest, level of experience and situational parameters (as in the wizard), will present the user with recommended modules.

• The system will store these options for logged in users so that users can have easier access to training material.

Multilingual content

Free search

• Users will be able to perform a free search through all the available training material using keywords.

Multilingual content

Favourites

• Users will be able to view a list with training modules that they have marked as favourites through a button in the main screen of the application.

Multilingual content

Submit content

• Registered users will be able to submit their content (post, video, photo, comment) through a button in the main screen.

• Care service providers will be able to create own training package for their employed PCGs.

• User material will be moderated by administrators, before being published. This feature will allow users to enrich the training material with their personal experience, testimonials and suggestions.

Multilingual content22

Login / Register

• Through this feature, users will be able to register, login and logout of the app.

• Users or service providers that want to submit content, or post comments should be registered.

Multilingual content24

Training modules (learning objects)• Focus will be given to embedded multimedia

such as▫ YouTube videos, pictures and audio testimonials,▫ which will be complemented by textual

information (e.g. case studies)▫ and links to further study material.

• Each training module will contain the title, a picture, an associated video, supporting text, possible links, a gaming feature and the option to comment, share or mark as favourite.

Training modules• A very important part of each training module is

the gaming featureQuestions in form of a scenario will be presented below the main training materialTwo types of questions: "yes" or "no” and multiple choicesIf the user replies correctly, there will be screen congratulating him/her on his/her response and suggesting other related modules.In case of a wrong answer, the system will provide the correct answer with an explanatory text and links to related training modules.Will be extendable with other future games.

Multilingual content

Multilingual content

Multilingual content

Summary & conclusions

o Target group:o Low skilled, unemployedo Service providers

o Learning anytime anywhere is coreo Gaming component introduced to make it

engaging, yet seamlessly embedded as it is a supporting element

o Beginning of 2015: first tests and evaluations with end-users

o Apk will be freely available via Google Play

More informationContact us via:• Karel Van Isacker• karel@phoenixkm.euYou can find us at:• www.mcare-project.eu• twitter.com/Mcareproject• www.facebook.com/MCareproj