On 5 September 2024, the Eldicare 2.0 consortium hosted the EU Validation Workshop, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders to discuss and refine the findings of the Blueprint Report: The Visioning of the To-Be Elderly Care Providers. This workshop served as a platform to validate the methodology, assess the report’s recommendations, and explore strategies to address key challenges in the elderly care sector.
Objectives of the Workshop
The event aimed to:
- Review the Blueprint Report’s insights, particularly on skill gaps in elderly care, post-pandemic challenges, and training needs.
- Identify specific gaps in digital, green, soft, and entrepreneurial skills essential for improving care quality and efficiency.
- Discuss actionable strategies for upskilling and reskilling the workforce to meet evolving demands.
Key Discussions and Outcomes
The workshop’s highlights included:
- Skills Gaps: Participants identified significant deficiencies in digital skills (both for job performance and accessing online training), entrepreneurial skills, and green skills. Language barriers and the lack of diversity-sensitive competencies were also emphasised, especially in sectors relying on migrant workers.
- Training Needs: Immersive, hands-on training was deemed highly effective, while participants stressed the importance of shorter, flexible sessions tailored to carers’ needs. Hybrid approaches combining online and in-person methods were suggested to enhance engagement.
- Recognition of Qualifications: Attendees highlighted the urgent need for better recognition of migrant workers’ skills and qualifications, addressing systemic barriers to employment and integration within the EU.
- Policy Recommendations: Suggestions included offering language training funded by employers or VET providers, providing legal support for migrant workers, and expanding training initiatives to non-EU countries to better prepare incoming carers.
Broader Implications
The discussions underscored the necessity of a holistic approach involving local authorities, governments, VET providers, and care facilities. Person-centred care, supported by tailored training and systemic reforms, was highlighted as a key goal for the sector’s future.
Next Steps
The workshop’s feedback will inform revisions to the Blueprint Report and guide future initiatives within the Eldicare 2.0 project. The emphasis will remain on addressing skill gaps, improving training accessibility, and fostering collaboration across sectors to build a resilient and skilled workforce for elderly care in Europe.
