WHAT IS SHAFE
1.
SMART HEALTHY
AGE- FRIENDLY
ENVIRONMENTS
Smart, adaptable and inclusive solutions can help improve and support independent life throughout the course of life, regardless of age, gender, disabilities, cultural differences and personal choices.
A holistic approach that optimizes social and physical environments, supported by digital tools and services, allows to provide better health and social care, promoting not only independent living, but also equity and active participation in society. This approach follows the United Nations’ line-up, with the Sustainable Development Goals (in particular Objectives 3 and 11), stating that sustainable environments for all ages represent the basis for ensuring a better future for the entire population and addressing most of the growing issues of the ageing population.
The challenges of different sectors, such as ICT, the building industry and urban planning and the health and social care, as well as those of citizens and their communities are interlinked. Responding to these challenges will foster awareness and support for the creation and implementation of smart, healthy and inclusive environments for present and future generations that enable them to learn, grow, work, socialise and enjoy a healthy life, benefiting from the use of digital innovations, accessibility solutions and adaptable support models in the European context.
Thus, we foster actions that promote partnerships between technological and digital innovation, architecture, urban planning, social studies and health sciences to design and simulate communities of belonging that leverage on the potential of each sector to promote the existential dignity of all persons, regardless of their age, gender, health, social, educational, economic, cultural and identity conditions, as well as the levels of development of the region where they live.
1.
SMART HEALTHY
AGE- FRIENDLY
ENVIRONMENTS
Smart, adaptable and inclusive solutions can help improve and support independent life throughout the course of life, regardless of age, gender, disabilities, cultural differences and personal choices.
A holistic approach that optimizes social and physical environments, supported by digital tools and services, allows to provide better health and social care, promoting not only independent living, but also equity and active participation in society. This approach follows the United Nations’ line-up, with the Sustainable Development Goals (in particular Objectives 3 and 11), stating that sustainable environments for all ages represent the basis for ensuring a better future for the entire population and addressing most of the growing issues of the ageing population.
The challenges of different sectors, such as ICT, the building industry and urban planning and the health and social care, as well as those of citizens and their communities are interlinked. Responding to these challenges will foster awareness and support for the creation and implementation of smart, healthy and inclusive environments for present and future generations that enable them to learn, grow, work, socialise and enjoy a healthy life, benefiting from the use of digital innovations, accessibility solutions and adaptable support models in the European context.
Thus, we foster actions that promote partnerships between technological and digital innovation, architecture, urban planning, social studies and health sciences to design and simulate communities of belonging that leverage on the potential of each sector to promote the existential dignity of all persons, regardless of their age, gender, health, social, educational, economic, cultural and identity conditions, as well as the levels of development of the region where they live.
A new concept was created since 2017, based on the desire to implement Smart Healthy Age-Friendly Environments (SHAFE) across Europe, fostering happier and healthier people in all communities. This idea took shape and became a solid movement.
SHAFE began as a Thematic Network, proposed by Carina Dantas (then Cáritas Coimbra, currently SHINE 2Europe) and Willeke van Staalduinen (AFEdemy), approved by the European Commission, to draw policy makers, organisations and citizens’ attention to the need of better alignment between health, social care, built environments and ICT, both in policy and funding and delivered a Joint Statement and a Framing Paper in December 2018 to the European Commission and Member States.
After this, SHAFE evolved to a European Stakeholders Network, coordinated by Carina Dantas and Willeke van Staalduinen, working to achieve better COOPERATION and IMPLEMENTATION, as major challenges stated in the Position Paper released in 2020.
From the early concept, several projects have been implementing SHAFE in the field: NET4Age-Friendly was one of the most relevant.
2.
THE STAKEHOLDERS NETWORK
2.
THE STAKEHOLDERS NETWORK
A new concept was created since 2017, based on the desire to implement Smart Healthy Age-Friendly Environments (SHAFE) across Europe, fostering happier and healthier people in all communities. This idea took shape and became a solid movement.
SHAFE began as a Thematic Network, proposed by Carina Dantas (then Cáritas Coimbra, currently SHINE 2Europe) and Willeke van Staalduinen (AFEdemy), approved by the European Commission, to draw policy makers, organisations and citizens’ attention to the need of better alignment between health, social care, built environments and ICT, both in policy and funding and delivered a Joint Statement and a Framing Paper in December 2018 to the European Commission and Member States.
After this, SHAFE evolved to a European Stakeholders Network, coordinated by Carina Dantas and Willeke van Staalduinen, working to achieve better COOPERATION and IMPLEMENTATION, as major challenges stated in the Position Paper released in 2020.
From the early concept, several projects have been implementing SHAFE in the field: NET4Age-Friendly was one of the most relevant.
3.
NET4Age-Friendly | INTERNATIONAL INTERDISCIPLINARY NETWORK ON HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN AN AGE-FRIENDLY DIGITAL WORLDTHE STAKEHOLDERS NETWORK
NET4Age-Friendly was a COST Action, co-funded by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology), a funding agency for research and innovation networks, Chaired by Carina Dantas (SHINE 2Europe) and Willeke van Staalduinen (AFEdemy).
The main aim of NET4Age-Friendly (2020-2024) was to establish an international and interdisciplinary network of researchers from all sectors to foster awareness, and to support the creation and implementation of smart, healthy indoor and outdoor environments for present and future generations. It gathered around 775 members from 50 countries.
NET4Age-Friendly further aimed to overcome fragmentation and critical gaps at both conceptual and pragmatic innovation level on responsive, age-friendly and sustainable environments in order to address the research-policy future requirements of Europe.
The NET4Age-Friendly approach was the establishment of new local or regional ecosystems or by expanding existing ones in each country involved, to work on health and wellbeing in an age-friendly digital world.
NET4Age-Friendly was used as a connector for involving and hosting regular themed sessions with local and regional stakeholders and users’ representatives from various countries and backgrounds, as well as for fostering the knowledge creation and sharing among researchers.
3.
NET4Age-Friendly | INTERNATIONAL INTERDISCIPLINARY NETWORK ON HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN AN AGE-FRIENDLY DIGITAL WORLDTHE STAKEHOLDERS NETWORK
NET4Age-Friendly was a COST Action, co-funded by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology), a funding agency for research and innovation networks, Chaired by Carina Dantas (SHINE 2Europe) and Willeke van Staalduinen (AFEdemy).
The main aim of NET4Age-Friendly (2020-2024) was to establish an international and interdisciplinary network of researchers from all sectors to foster awareness, and to support the creation and implementation of smart, healthy indoor and outdoor environments for present and future generations. It gathered around 775 members from 50 countries.
NET4Age-Friendly further aimed to overcome fragmentation and critical gaps at both conceptual and pragmatic innovation level on responsive, age-friendly and sustainable environments in order to address the research-policy future requirements of Europe.
The NET4Age-Friendly approach was the establishment of new local or regional ecosystems or by expanding existing ones in each country involved, to work on health and wellbeing in an age-friendly digital world.
NET4Age-Friendly was used as a connector for involving and hosting regular themed sessions with local and regional stakeholders and users’ representatives from various countries and backgrounds, as well as for fostering the knowledge creation and sharing among researchers.
4.
The SHAFE Foundation
As the legacy of the previous networks, the SHAFE Foundation was founded in 2021 in The Netherlands (82637393) and it is now ready to take over the legacy of the CA19136, with a clear service method that is evidence-based and culturally applicable.
The overall aim of the SHAFE Foundation is to support citizens, public authorities, non-governmental organisations, scientists, and businesses in implementing smart, inclusive environments in their territories. NET4Age-Friendly members were invited to join the Foundation as members and/or ambassadors to continue the networking and upscale implementation, with a special focus on less developed countries and regions in Europe.
NET4Age-Friendly was used as a connector for involving and hosting regular themed sessions with local and regional stakeholders and users’ representatives from various countries and backgrounds, as well as for fostering the knowledge creation and sharing among researchers.
As the legacy of the previous networks, the SHAFE Foundation was founded in 2021 in The Netherlands (82637393) and it is now ready to take over the legacy of the CA19136, with a clear service method that is evidence-based and culturally applicable.
The overall aim of the SHAFE Foundation is to support citizens, public authorities, non-governmental organisations, scientists, and businesses in implementing smart, inclusive environments in their territories. NET4Age-Friendly members were invited to join the Foundation as members and/or ambassadors to continue the networking and upscale implementation, with a special focus on less developed countries and regions in Europe.
4.
The SHAFE Foundation
