Project EuROPEAN

The EuROPEAN project was the only project selected by the European Commission to compile a reference framework for the prevention of elder abuse across Europe.

The ageing of the population is currently one of the most significant demographic trends worldwide. When entering old age, people become more vulnerable and dependent on others. This combination of frailty and dependency puts older people at risk of elder abuse. Elder abuse is a violation of human rights. It hinders older people from living independently,  and in dignity, and from participating fully in society. This makes elder abuse an infringement of Article 25 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which recognizes that older people should be able to fully participate in social and cultural life and lead a life of dignity and independence. A lot of work still needs to be done on the issue of elder abuse. Although an impressive body of research and good practices exists on the topic, information is diffuse and spread across the globe.

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the protection of older people from abuse and neglect, so that they can lead their life in dignity and safety by developing a reference framework that spreads information and links relevant stakeholders and experts (researchers, policy makers, NGO’s, advocacy and interest groups) in an interactive way. 

The project is designed in a way that will allow other experts and stakeholders (and not only partners in the project consortium) to contribute. They will be actively involved in the development of the reference framework through the use of the preventelderabuse.eu website.

Under the same Call for Proposals another project, called MILCEA, was funded by the European Commission to design a monitoring system for elder abuse in Long Term Care. A link to this project will be available as soon as the MILCEA website is ready.

reactions

24-02-2010 15:44 Question from M.C., Portugal

Hello,

How are you?

We are a group of teachers from a university in Portugal who studies violence against the elderly and policies in this area. We would like to know how we can be a part of this project. We have much interest in working with you on the prevention of abuse of the elderly.

Could you explain how to join the project?

M.C., Portugal

24-02-2010 15:47 Answer

Dear M.C.,

Thank you for your e-mail. We would very much like to welcome your contribution to the project.

There are several possibilities through which you can contribute:

1.) Please fill in the questionnaire about elder abuse in your own country. You can find the questionnaire under the following link:

http://www.preventelderabuse.eu/european/1/News_CategoryView.aspx?id=%2feuropean%2f1%2f23%2f2%2f

You can send in the filled in questionnaire (as a Word or a .pdf file) the same way as you have asked us a question, through the 'send in message or article' button at the right top of the webpage:

http://www.preventelderabuse.eu/european/1/Contact_ManuscriptNew.aspx?referrer=%2feuropean%2f1%2fNews_CategoryView.aspx%3fid%3d%252feuropean%252f1%252f23%252f2%252f

The answers that you give to the questionnaire will be processed anonymously for the project's Background and Position Paper. Please fill in the questionnaire before 15 March 2010.

2.) You can send us research and policy documents that you think are interesting and / or that you yourself are working on. If these documents are only available in Portuguese, please give a small summary in English to explain what the document is about and what the most important conclusions / findings are.

3.) You can respond to any of the articles or project products posted on the website www.preventelderabuse.eu, to give us your professional opinion through the 'react' button at the top right of each article. Your responses will help us to sharpen our project.

4.) There is also an opportunity to attend one of our partner meetings and to give a presentation on the things you are working on. If you think you have anything of interest to bring to one of our meetings, please give a short one page summary of what you would like to contribute. We will then let you know if and when you will be invited to one of our meetings.

We encourage you to take part in the project through any of the four possibilities. For the moment, the most important option to us is the first, since we will compile a Background and Position Paper within the next few weeks that will serve as a basis for the rest of the project. Your contribution in this aspect would be very much appreciated.

If you have any further questions or queries, please let me know.

Thank you for taking an interest in the EuROPEAN project and good luck to you and your colleagues for the work you are doing on elder abuse.

With best regards,

Nienke Thurlings
International project manager
ANBO (EuROPEAN project manager)
The Netherlands

09-07-2010 10:47 Laurinda Seabra

I would like to enter into contact with MC in Portugal and with any other organisation based here that is dealing with this serious issue.

Regards
Laurinda Seabra
Empowerment Gateway
Portugal