Egurtzegi's care: home&ecosystem design
Basic information
Project Title
Egurtzegi's care: home&ecosystem design
Full project title
Egurtzegi, A Comprehensive Perspective of Care Design to Accompany the Person Throughout Life
Category
Prioritising the places and people that need it the most
Project Description
Demographic change is challenging the sustainability of care systems. Integrated care is presented as a broad framework to help people get the care they need, maintain continuity and transition of care as their situation evolves, and enable them to develop their life and care plan within their community. Usurbil is a pioneering project for the implementation of this care ecosystem, which has enabled the development of a new concept of nursing home in a co-design process.
Geographical Scope
Local
Project Region
Usurbil, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain, Spain
Urban or rural issues
Mainly rural
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
Yes
Which funds
Other
Other Funds
Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia (Next Generation EU)
Description of the project
Summary
The implementation of integrated care systems within a community requires both the support of local stakeholders and the adaptation or development of built environments that respond to the new processes. The small village of Usurbil in the Basque Country is a pioneering community in the transformation of the care system. The first project, "Etxean Bizi" -which translates as "Living at home" in Euskera- was carried out between 2018-2020 to identify a sustainable model of integrated social and health support, focusing on people living at home. The main objective was to achieve the best quality of life for people with multiple dependencies by coordinating care services through an integrated approach. This first project showed the need for a broader approach involving the whole community of Usurbil, as care is not only the responsibility of the health sector, nor can it be reduced to the domestic level. From 2021, the next phase was to work on "Communities of Care", in which the City Council played an important role in leading this process, empowering local actors to consolidate new partnerships at different levels, with the aim of optimising the sustainability of health care, which also requires the development of new skills and knowledge, as well as strengthening the resilience of existing networks. This new culture and philosophy of care, in which caring and being cared for should be integrated into everyday life, has also influenced the transformation of the built environment. New roles and programmes for a new model of care required new types of long-term care facilities, and so the Egurtzegi Care Homes project was developed to meet the care needs of the whole area. The three main guidelines that have been applied in the architectural proposal are integration into the urban and social context, social interaction through the communal areas and, finally, the promotion of independence, autonomy and personal identity through the design of individual apartments.
Key objectives for sustainability
Today, small communities face major challenges in terms of retaining and attracting population, providing opportunities for younger generations and sufficient services for the growing demand for care. The main objective of the community of care in Usurbil was to create a self-sufficient and sustainable ecosystem of care. Complementary objectives were to empower the local community to create a new culture of care and innovative strategic services. In terms of sustainability, a structural framework was created to link the two spheres of care transformation: the social and the physical environment.
In this sense, the City Council was accompanied by Matia Fundazioa to manage the new concept of care in a transversal way. Regarding the social sphere, the project consists of two phases. First, in 2021, a participatory process was launched to define the care model for Usurbil, developing the community mapping of care in the village and its surroundings and making a SWOT diagnosis. The second phase was developed in 2022 and consisted of five consolidated motor groups working on the main strategic lines for the care framework: the care ecosystems, the development of a volunteer network, an innovative strategy for specialised tourism and the consolidation of a horizontal leadership of the village council. The specific projects that will emerge from this strategic framework will contribute to the sustainability of the care model in Usurbil.
The involvement of the municipality of Usurbil in the provision of care is an innovative approach in Spain, as care services are usually managed at a regional level. This local community perspective has also influenced the new care facilities, such as Egurtzegi Care Homes or Txirikorda Intergenerational housing. These two projects incorporate new building typologies in which communal and open spaces for socialising are key elements of the functional programme.
In this sense, the City Council was accompanied by Matia Fundazioa to manage the new concept of care in a transversal way. Regarding the social sphere, the project consists of two phases. First, in 2021, a participatory process was launched to define the care model for Usurbil, developing the community mapping of care in the village and its surroundings and making a SWOT diagnosis. The second phase was developed in 2022 and consisted of five consolidated motor groups working on the main strategic lines for the care framework: the care ecosystems, the development of a volunteer network, an innovative strategy for specialised tourism and the consolidation of a horizontal leadership of the village council. The specific projects that will emerge from this strategic framework will contribute to the sustainability of the care model in Usurbil.
The involvement of the municipality of Usurbil in the provision of care is an innovative approach in Spain, as care services are usually managed at a regional level. This local community perspective has also influenced the new care facilities, such as Egurtzegi Care Homes or Txirikorda Intergenerational housing. These two projects incorporate new building typologies in which communal and open spaces for socialising are key elements of the functional programme.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The transformation of the care framework in Usurbil has influenced the need for a new model of care home, establishing three main guidelines: integration into the urban and social context, social interaction through the common areas and, finally, the promotion of independence and personal identity. Thus, a new architectural language was therefore needed. Egurtzegi Care Homes, designed and developed by Matia Fundazioa, offers 110 apartments for 127 people, divided into 7 different residential units, each one with between 16 and 20 apartments.
Firstly, the integration of such a large facility in a small rural village required the division into four smaller volumes, allowing it to function both as a whole and each building independently for future division into half units. In addition, the geometry and architectural language follow the traditional style in the area, ensuring a familiar aspect in the village community and enhancing the urban landscape. In addition, the use of traditional and local materials, colours and techniques promotes a sense of belonging to the place, and helps to create a continuity of lifestyle for future users of the facility.
Secondly, the project aims to facilitate integration with the local community and therefore includes a day centre, communal areas and a café, as well as an open and inclusive space where the main entrance is located, a new plaza. Similarly, the common indoor spaces for the local community are located on the ground floor, allowing the rest of the village’s residents to benefit from the use of the facilities.
Finally, the residential units are articulated into communal areas and apartments that promote autonomy. All the indoor spaces have views to the exterior landscape. These views of the plaza, the village or the valley will benefit people who, due to their dependency, lack mobility, thus increasing the opportunities for participation and interaction in the community, consequently improving the quality of life.
Firstly, the integration of such a large facility in a small rural village required the division into four smaller volumes, allowing it to function both as a whole and each building independently for future division into half units. In addition, the geometry and architectural language follow the traditional style in the area, ensuring a familiar aspect in the village community and enhancing the urban landscape. In addition, the use of traditional and local materials, colours and techniques promotes a sense of belonging to the place, and helps to create a continuity of lifestyle for future users of the facility.
Secondly, the project aims to facilitate integration with the local community and therefore includes a day centre, communal areas and a café, as well as an open and inclusive space where the main entrance is located, a new plaza. Similarly, the common indoor spaces for the local community are located on the ground floor, allowing the rest of the village’s residents to benefit from the use of the facilities.
Finally, the residential units are articulated into communal areas and apartments that promote autonomy. All the indoor spaces have views to the exterior landscape. These views of the plaza, the village or the valley will benefit people who, due to their dependency, lack mobility, thus increasing the opportunities for participation and interaction in the community, consequently improving the quality of life.
Key objectives for inclusion
In 2021, a participative process was launched to define the care model for Usurbil, developing the community mapping of care in the village and its surroundings and making a SWOT diagnosis of each of the aspects that define the care ecosystem. In this process, more than 100 people actively participated in the first phase to open a space to redefine and co-create a new framework for care, its meaning and implications for a holistic view. The call was open to many associations and local entities, but an extra effort was needed to attract and reach minority groups that are usually excluded from participatory processes. In this sense, the presence of severely dependent people, social workers, caregivers, day centre users and older people from civil society, as well as cultural, sports, youth or gastronomy associations.
Overall, the high presence and activism of women during the whole process demonstrated the importance of an inclusive and feminist approach in all the strategies. The intercultural and migrant population has also been included, taking into account the importance of migrant women in the care sector, as well as migrant minorities, in order to consider their needs in terms of care services. Usurbil’s experience is unique in terms of inclusiveness, as they opened the initiative to the whole population from the very beginning, giving voice to the people receiving care and their families, was well as to both formal and informal caregivers.
Egurtzegi Care Homes opened this summer and welcome new inhabitants, which were very excited about moving to this new facility. The design of the building promotes the relationship with the external open spaces and the interior design provides comfort and wellbeing both for the people that live there as well as for the caregivers. New routines are facilitated thanks to separated and diverse calm and activity spaces in order to create the best stimuli along the day, week or month.
Overall, the high presence and activism of women during the whole process demonstrated the importance of an inclusive and feminist approach in all the strategies. The intercultural and migrant population has also been included, taking into account the importance of migrant women in the care sector, as well as migrant minorities, in order to consider their needs in terms of care services. Usurbil’s experience is unique in terms of inclusiveness, as they opened the initiative to the whole population from the very beginning, giving voice to the people receiving care and their families, was well as to both formal and informal caregivers.
Egurtzegi Care Homes opened this summer and welcome new inhabitants, which were very excited about moving to this new facility. The design of the building promotes the relationship with the external open spaces and the interior design provides comfort and wellbeing both for the people that live there as well as for the caregivers. New routines are facilitated thanks to separated and diverse calm and activity spaces in order to create the best stimuli along the day, week or month.
Results in relation to category
Egurtzegi opened last summer and since the very first moment, the excitement of the people, relatives and professionals that were moving there was contagious. The Care Units have been welcoming new inhabitants and the teams have been working on the decoration and customization of the indoor environments. This process has equally implicated the persons that currently there and families or caregivers, in order to create a sense of belonging, also in common spaces. Some of the apartments already show this strong identity and common areas are progressively being decorated in order to create differentiated environments among the care unit and between them. The new facility has been also welcoming visits from all over Spain and also from other countries, to show the results of the project and assess recommendations for further projects in other places.
In parallel to the construction of Egurtzegi Care Homes, the Usurbil Care Ecosystem was successfully completed in 2021. The final report with the development of the process and main conclusions is also included as a demonstrable output and deliverable. During 2022, the second phase consisted of the development of a strategic planning, small pilot projects and preparation for the gradual implementation of the new care framework. The final report is also a demonstrable output. In addition, the celebration of the Care Festival in November 2022 was one of the main outputs of the whole process.
Conferences and seminars to share Egurtzegi’s best practices have already been held in different events throughout Spain, as well as publications, both in scientific media as well as local newspapers.
In parallel to the construction of Egurtzegi Care Homes, the Usurbil Care Ecosystem was successfully completed in 2021. The final report with the development of the process and main conclusions is also included as a demonstrable output and deliverable. During 2022, the second phase consisted of the development of a strategic planning, small pilot projects and preparation for the gradual implementation of the new care framework. The final report is also a demonstrable output. In addition, the celebration of the Care Festival in November 2022 was one of the main outputs of the whole process.
Conferences and seminars to share Egurtzegi’s best practices have already been held in different events throughout Spain, as well as publications, both in scientific media as well as local newspapers.
How Citizens benefit
The opportunity to think about the concept of care in Usurbil supposed an important moment to review the governance model. Usurbil is a village of 6,000 inhabitants with a very low level of self-sufficiency in terms of care services. In fact, there is no large hospital in the immediate area, nor is there an ambulance service, so people have to travel long distances when they need special and extra care.
Therefore, one of the most important aspects of the Usurbil Care Ecosystem project was to define a consolidated management of care services. This required the integration of both social and health services, which usually work independently. This centralisation of the care management benefits a wide range of people, as care involves not only the person in need of support, but also their relatives, caregivers or care providers. The quality of life of the entire care sector is improved, as care is shared with other members of the community and supports the consolidation of an age-friendly community.
The participatory process also led to the creation of a sustainable tourism strategy, including a unique experience for visitors to learn more about innovative care ecosystems and housing alternatives for older people. The whole village is envisaged as a laboratory for care innovation.
Matia Fundazioa’s Usurbil Care Homes will be one of the most innovative projects in the village -and Spain-, as well as Txirikorda, the future intergenerational housing facility, which is also being developed by other stakeholders. The Usurbil Care Homes will be a symbolic space for care, from the new public plaza to the services and spaces open to the community inside the buildings. The new homes will accommodate people from Usurbil and the surrounding area, allowing them to age in place in an accessible and supportive environment that promotes social inclusion until the end of life.
Therefore, one of the most important aspects of the Usurbil Care Ecosystem project was to define a consolidated management of care services. This required the integration of both social and health services, which usually work independently. This centralisation of the care management benefits a wide range of people, as care involves not only the person in need of support, but also their relatives, caregivers or care providers. The quality of life of the entire care sector is improved, as care is shared with other members of the community and supports the consolidation of an age-friendly community.
The participatory process also led to the creation of a sustainable tourism strategy, including a unique experience for visitors to learn more about innovative care ecosystems and housing alternatives for older people. The whole village is envisaged as a laboratory for care innovation.
Matia Fundazioa’s Usurbil Care Homes will be one of the most innovative projects in the village -and Spain-, as well as Txirikorda, the future intergenerational housing facility, which is also being developed by other stakeholders. The Usurbil Care Homes will be a symbolic space for care, from the new public plaza to the services and spaces open to the community inside the buildings. The new homes will accommodate people from Usurbil and the surrounding area, allowing them to age in place in an accessible and supportive environment that promotes social inclusion until the end of life.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
The main innovation of the Usurbil Care Ecosystem was to work in parallel with the local community to ensure that the new project would be integrated into the continuum of care and provide alternatives for ageing in place in the event severe dependency or dementia. The innovation in design and architecture was therefore to create a new typology with a unique aesthetic for the building.
In addition to the social interaction promoted by the plaza, all the communal areas within the residential units play an important role. There are areas for shared activities, but also small areas for individual enjoyment. The aim is to provide a normalised living environment and meaningful activities. All spaces benefit from magnificent views of the surrounding landscape. All communal areas are connected to outdoor terraces that can be used for a variety of activities. In addition, natural light is guaranteed in all spaces, with the consequent health benefits. Views of the plaza, village or valley will also benefit those who, due to their dependency, spend a lot of time indoors.
The new conceptual framework introduces the concept of Assisted Living Housing, which replaces the concept of rooms with individual apartments. This change guarantees the existence of a private space where communication and companionship with family, friends or volunteers acquire the necessary sense of “privacy” that the traditional institution cannot provide. The homes follow design criteria that have been widely tested in similar facilities in Europe but are integrated into a care home facility. In addition to the bedroom, a small living room and bathroom, the entrance area includes a space to store the wheelchair or other aids, and also supports personalisation with the individual’s objects and furniture. Finally, a kitchenette is included to allow for private social visits, as it is considered a central element in the construction of the meaning of home.
In addition to the social interaction promoted by the plaza, all the communal areas within the residential units play an important role. There are areas for shared activities, but also small areas for individual enjoyment. The aim is to provide a normalised living environment and meaningful activities. All spaces benefit from magnificent views of the surrounding landscape. All communal areas are connected to outdoor terraces that can be used for a variety of activities. In addition, natural light is guaranteed in all spaces, with the consequent health benefits. Views of the plaza, village or valley will also benefit those who, due to their dependency, spend a lot of time indoors.
The new conceptual framework introduces the concept of Assisted Living Housing, which replaces the concept of rooms with individual apartments. This change guarantees the existence of a private space where communication and companionship with family, friends or volunteers acquire the necessary sense of “privacy” that the traditional institution cannot provide. The homes follow design criteria that have been widely tested in similar facilities in Europe but are integrated into a care home facility. In addition to the bedroom, a small living room and bathroom, the entrance area includes a space to store the wheelchair or other aids, and also supports personalisation with the individual’s objects and furniture. Finally, a kitchenette is included to allow for private social visits, as it is considered a central element in the construction of the meaning of home.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
The Usurbil Care Ecosystem social project was developed through a co-creation process involving social workers, health professionals such as doctors or nurses, social trainers, psychologists, caregivers, communication and marketing professionals, urban planners, and municipal technicians. In addition, the knowledge and experience of civil society and older people were included too throughout the process.
On the other hand, in the development of the urban and architectural projects, designers and architects were also deeply involved in the social process. This intersection with other disciplines made evolve the formal architectural approaches to the new model of care homes and the relationship with the immediate surroundings. Experiences from European best practices were adapted to the local context, taking into account the specificities of local regulations, work schedules or building typologies. The design was conceived with a high degree of flexibility, in order to adapt to the predicted evolution of Egurtzegi Care Homes, which is structured in units of conviviality and aims to be divided into smaller groups.
A special effort was made to include sustainable and healthy materials in the interior design of the care homes. Specific knowledge from suppliers and the construction sector was needed to adapt domestic materials to the cleaning, maintenance, and durability requirements of this type of programme. For instance, the use of wood in this type of facility not only offers a homelike aesthetic, but also provides more comfort, better insulation, or acoustics. However, it is usually avoided in sociosanitary equipment, so the challenge was to introduce specific techniques to enable its use. The whole team was therefore involved in this process, not only to incorporate wood into the design, but also to learn how to carry out an appropriate maintenance and optimise the use of the material in order to transfer this knowledge to future projects.
On the other hand, in the development of the urban and architectural projects, designers and architects were also deeply involved in the social process. This intersection with other disciplines made evolve the formal architectural approaches to the new model of care homes and the relationship with the immediate surroundings. Experiences from European best practices were adapted to the local context, taking into account the specificities of local regulations, work schedules or building typologies. The design was conceived with a high degree of flexibility, in order to adapt to the predicted evolution of Egurtzegi Care Homes, which is structured in units of conviviality and aims to be divided into smaller groups.
A special effort was made to include sustainable and healthy materials in the interior design of the care homes. Specific knowledge from suppliers and the construction sector was needed to adapt domestic materials to the cleaning, maintenance, and durability requirements of this type of programme. For instance, the use of wood in this type of facility not only offers a homelike aesthetic, but also provides more comfort, better insulation, or acoustics. However, it is usually avoided in sociosanitary equipment, so the challenge was to introduce specific techniques to enable its use. The whole team was therefore involved in this process, not only to incorporate wood into the design, but also to learn how to carry out an appropriate maintenance and optimise the use of the material in order to transfer this knowledge to future projects.
Methodology used
The main approaches used in the Usurbil Care Ecosystems are Participatory Action Research (PAR) and Change Management. The PAR is a participatory approach in which both researchers and participants work together to understand and change a problematic situation for the better. In this sense, Care Ecosystems emerge from the challenges that the care sector faces for its sustainability. PAR focuses on social change that promotes democracy and equity, and so, it has been tested in Usurbil with successful development.
In addition, Change Management is an enabling framework for managing the people side of change. In this sense, in order to achieve the expected results and implement the Care Ecosystems within the community of Usurbil, individuals and teams must be supported and empowered to successfully adopt the desired changed.
Both methodologies have been developed by Matia Fundazioa to accompany the Usurbil Town Council in leading this transformation, creating a co-creation environment to work together in their different projects. Also, in order to ensure continuity over time, it is important that there is interaction between all the community stakeholders, specifically the actors involved in the provision of care, both formal and informal caregivers and services.
Finally, in terms of architectural design, the implementation of the evidence-based design process was a pioneering methodology to innovate in all the aspects. In this sense, previous small pilots of convivial units or the use of specific materials have been developed and tested in other care homes of Matia Fundazioa. The literature review of dementia-friendly recommendations and guidelines as well as these first projects in other facilities provided an innovative approach for the major investment that was made in Egurtzegi Care Homes.
In addition, Change Management is an enabling framework for managing the people side of change. In this sense, in order to achieve the expected results and implement the Care Ecosystems within the community of Usurbil, individuals and teams must be supported and empowered to successfully adopt the desired changed.
Both methodologies have been developed by Matia Fundazioa to accompany the Usurbil Town Council in leading this transformation, creating a co-creation environment to work together in their different projects. Also, in order to ensure continuity over time, it is important that there is interaction between all the community stakeholders, specifically the actors involved in the provision of care, both formal and informal caregivers and services.
Finally, in terms of architectural design, the implementation of the evidence-based design process was a pioneering methodology to innovate in all the aspects. In this sense, previous small pilots of convivial units or the use of specific materials have been developed and tested in other care homes of Matia Fundazioa. The literature review of dementia-friendly recommendations and guidelines as well as these first projects in other facilities provided an innovative approach for the major investment that was made in Egurtzegi Care Homes.
How stakeholders are engaged
Egurtzegi Care Ecosystem project was born at the local level, in a small village of 6,000 inhabitants in Guipuzcoa (Basque Country, Spain). Local stakeholders have been involved from the first phase of the project, in which the Council of Usurbil has been the main actor leading the project in a co-creation process open to all local entities of the village, both public and private, as well as formal or informal ones. In this context, Matia Fundazioa has accompanied the whole process as a consultant for the local community and core partner of the new care ecosystem. In addition, Matia Fundazioa is the promoter of the new Egurtzegi Care Homes, in a joint agreement with the municipality of Usurbil.
In this sense, it is important to mention the different funding and support that the project has received at different levels. Firstly, at the local level, the Council of Usurbil. At the regional level, the project has been supported by the Guipuzcoa Provincial Council (Diputación Foral de Guipúzcoa) and has also received funding from the European Union’s Next Generation-EU programme.
Egurtzegi Care Homes has become one pioneering project in Spain for a new typology of residential care homes, based on the principles of the small-scale and articulated in residential units. In this sense, homelike design plays a major role to guarantee wellbeing and comfort for the people that will live there, so strategic alliances with local providers were also needed in order to build a new residential care home completely integrated in the surroundings and putting into value health and sustainable materials.
In this sense, it is important to mention the different funding and support that the project has received at different levels. Firstly, at the local level, the Council of Usurbil. At the regional level, the project has been supported by the Guipuzcoa Provincial Council (Diputación Foral de Guipúzcoa) and has also received funding from the European Union’s Next Generation-EU programme.
Egurtzegi Care Homes has become one pioneering project in Spain for a new typology of residential care homes, based on the principles of the small-scale and articulated in residential units. In this sense, homelike design plays a major role to guarantee wellbeing and comfort for the people that will live there, so strategic alliances with local providers were also needed in order to build a new residential care home completely integrated in the surroundings and putting into value health and sustainable materials.
Global challenges
One of the key challenges in Europe’s ageing society -as well as in the global context- is to provide high quality, affordable and accessible care services for all ages, but especially for older adults. To cope with this changing situation, our health and care systems will need to innovate to provide new solutions adapted to each local context. This situation overlaps with the green and digital transitions and offers a great opportunity to have a positive impact on society by aligning strategies at the same time.
Moreover, in a number of countries, the combination of increasing life expectancy and low birth rates will accelerate the ageing process. Spain is one of these countries, with a particularly rapid ageing process, where people over 65 has doubled in the last decades.
In this context, care is seen as a transversal component of our society and therefore needs to be integrated into daily life, both by formal and informal networks and providers. Integrating care into all aspects of our lives will create a more equitable society, especially for women and vulnerable groups.
In this sense, care services should adapt to the needs of the person and their circumstances, offering continuity in their lives as the level of dependency increases or the personal situation becomes more difficult. This continuity is closely linked to the physical environment, both the private sphere -homes and care facilities- and the public sphere -outdoor and public spaces or local equipment-, which should provide enabling environments to live, participate and provide wellbeing.
The Usurbil Care Ecosystems project, which includes the Egurtzegi Care Homes, aimed to develop a new integrated care framework. It will create an alternative for older people who need professional and specific care, providing new opportunities for the village in terms of care and high-quality services, which will also generate a better quality of life for all.
Moreover, in a number of countries, the combination of increasing life expectancy and low birth rates will accelerate the ageing process. Spain is one of these countries, with a particularly rapid ageing process, where people over 65 has doubled in the last decades.
In this context, care is seen as a transversal component of our society and therefore needs to be integrated into daily life, both by formal and informal networks and providers. Integrating care into all aspects of our lives will create a more equitable society, especially for women and vulnerable groups.
In this sense, care services should adapt to the needs of the person and their circumstances, offering continuity in their lives as the level of dependency increases or the personal situation becomes more difficult. This continuity is closely linked to the physical environment, both the private sphere -homes and care facilities- and the public sphere -outdoor and public spaces or local equipment-, which should provide enabling environments to live, participate and provide wellbeing.
The Usurbil Care Ecosystems project, which includes the Egurtzegi Care Homes, aimed to develop a new integrated care framework. It will create an alternative for older people who need professional and specific care, providing new opportunities for the village in terms of care and high-quality services, which will also generate a better quality of life for all.
Learning transferred to other parties
The whole project is the result of previous experiences of Matia Fundazioa in the care sector in the Basque Country, such as the “Etxean Ondo” (Well at Home) and “Etxean Bizi” (Living at Home) projects. The Usurbil Care Ecosystem project has integrated all this knowledge into a strategic vision for the whole municipality of Usurbil. The aim is to articulate all the services and resources available in the area -or creating new ones- to enable living at home or living in place in the village. The development of the Care Ecosystem has been systematised along the whole process, establishing different phases that offer an integral and flexible methodology. Thus, any municipality that would like to implement the transformation of its care model towards an integral care ecosystem will find a specific framework that will adapt and configure a new care pathway that responds to specific local needs. The whole process has been reported to generate open access materials to share experiences and best practices. The articulation of all care services, both social and health, will be also evaluated in order to generate evidence on the optimization of resources and the improvement of quality of life.
In terms of the new architectural facility, Egurtzegi Care Homes is a new pilot project to generate evidence-based knowledge about the design principles that have been followed: integration into the community, and therefore into the urban landscape, and continuity of the care path of the people who will move to Egurtzegi Care Homes, as well as interaction with the local community as part of the public spaces for conviviality in the village.
These are the main outputs in terms of transferability of this project, which can be developed in any other context. In addition, Usurbil will be a touristic destination for researchers and practitioners who want to learn more about specific knowledge on care planning, care ecosystems, urban strategy or design for people with dementia.
In terms of the new architectural facility, Egurtzegi Care Homes is a new pilot project to generate evidence-based knowledge about the design principles that have been followed: integration into the community, and therefore into the urban landscape, and continuity of the care path of the people who will move to Egurtzegi Care Homes, as well as interaction with the local community as part of the public spaces for conviviality in the village.
These are the main outputs in terms of transferability of this project, which can be developed in any other context. In addition, Usurbil will be a touristic destination for researchers and practitioners who want to learn more about specific knowledge on care planning, care ecosystems, urban strategy or design for people with dementia.
Keywords
Care ecosystem
Person-centred care
Long term care
Ageing in place
Participatory Action Research (PAR)
