Hybrid care in practice: how AI helps seniors and caregivers to detect risks earlier
In rural regions across central Europe, many older adults want to stay in their own homes. But timely, dependable support can be hard to access, and home care often remains reactive, stepping in only after problems have escalated. That can mean missed chances to address early signs of cognitive or physical decline, and to prevent isolation before it deepens.
PROCAREFUL tests a different approach: a hybrid home-care model that combines face-to-face support with a digital platform and mobile app using machine learning and AI-supported risk detection based on inputs from assessments and ongoing user activity to help professionals detect risks earlier and tailor preventive support.
This collaboration truly enhances the level of care we can offer. It makes our work more efficient and creates a sustainable, long-term solution for our aging population.
What the platform and mobile app actually do
At the centre of the pilot are the PROCAREFUL platform and mobile app, which translate individual assessments into a personalised care plan. In practical terms, the senior-facing dashboard includes recommended cognitive games (e.g., Sudoku), physical activities, and personal growth challenges, and it allows seniors to reflect and track experiences via a personal diary feature.
Early signals from the pilots
The model is being tested in five pilot sites across Italy, Slovenia, Poland, Croatia, and Germany, involving seniors (55+), informal caregivers, and professionals.
In these pilots, the project has already engaged more than 140 seniors and caregivers. A multidimensional assessment reported improvements in cognitive functions and strong appreciation for the hybrid model – an encouraging sign that proactive, tech-supported care can complement in-person services rather than replace them.
Why cooperation beyond borders matters
Ageing, staff capacity constraints, and the need for preventive care are shared challenges, but care systems differ widely. Testing the same model across multiple countries helps refine what works in different contexts and turns pilot experience into methods other services can adapt.
If you work in home care, municipal health and social services, or digital health, follow PROCAREFUL’s pilot results and platform development, and consider how proactive, data-supported care can help older adults stay independent longer while supporting care teams with earlier, better-targeted interventions.
Project: PROCAREFUL
Duration: 2023-2026
Budget: 2,29 m €
Partners: DE, HR, HU, IT, PL, SI
