Challenge

Across Europe, there is a significant disparity in awareness and practical approaches among stakeholders, such as local and regional authorities and citizens, regarding the development of age-friendly environments. This inconsistency is particularly evident between Eastern and Western, as well as Northern and Southern European regions. The advent of technologies like 5G, wearable devices, assistive technology, virtual/augmented reality, and innovative service models further complicates the landscape. Additionally, the diverse demographic, economic, social, cultural, and welfare structures across COST and non-COST nations underscore the need for a cohesive strategy. Existing information and best practices, though abundant, remain fragmented and underutilized, necessitating a concerted effort to consolidate and disseminate knowledge to foster inclusive, age-friendly digital environments.

Solutions

To address these challenges, NET4Age-Friendly established local or regional ecosystems in each participating COST country, focusing on health and well-being in an age-friendly digital world. These ecosystems comprise citizens, public authorities, businesses/NGOs, and researchers. The initiative is structured around five thematic Working Groups:
1. User-centred inclusive design in age-friendly environments and communities
2. Integrated health and well-being pathways
3. Digital solutions and large-scale sustainable implementation
4. Policy development, funding forecast, and cost-benefit evaluations
5. Reference Framework development, synthesizing outputs from the other groups
NET4Age-Friendly serves as a connector, organizing regular themed sessions with stakeholders and user representatives from diverse backgrounds. It emphasizes the involvement of Early Career Investigators, entrepreneurs, and participants from COST Inclusiveness Target Countries, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Results

Since its inception in October 2020, NET4Age-Friendly has significantly contributed to promoting social inclusion, independent living, and active and healthy ageing. Through the exchange of practices, networking, and dissemination activities, the initiative has:

• Facilitated interdisciplinary and transnational collaborations to understand and implement Healthy Age-Friendly Digital Environments (HAFDE).
• Collected and shared knowledge across disciplines to promote future collaborations in designing and implementing HAFDE.
• Empowered local and regional stakeholders to design and implement HAFDE in various settings by providing holistic, inclusive frameworks.
• Contributed indicators and results from working groups to shape relevant call programs, embedding interdisciplinary research and market creation into complex societal issues.
The initiative has been recognized by the United Nations as a good practice, highlighting its global relevance and impact.