MINDFUL AGEING

Starting date: 01/09/2020

Finishing: 31/08/2023

Partners:

-          Inova Consultancy, UK

-          Business Information and Consulting Centre Sandanski Association, Bulgaria

-          Institute of Entrepreneurship Development, Greece

-          CCS Digital Education Limited, Ireland

-          E-Seniors, France

-          Oy Vaasan Ammattikorkeakoulu, Finland

The Mindful Ageing project will develop resources & training to help seniors to maintain a healthy, positive mindset and improve their mental well-being, building resilience and avoiding potential physical/mental wellbeing issues. The project will promote the importance of looking after yourself and how to maintain positive and healthy mindsets through tools such as Mindfulness, Clinical Hypnosis, meditation and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), as well as good nutrition and physical activity. This type of ‘preventative medicine’ can combat isolation and loneliness in later life.

Mindful Ageing will focus on adults aged 50+, particularly those from vulnerable groups, developing positive attitudes to ageing and good mental wellbeing to prevent potential physical and mental wellbeing problems. The project aims to work with those particularly at risk of social isolation and its related impacts, including those: living alone; on low incomes/living in low socio-economic areas; from minority ethnic groups; from LGBTQ+ groups and those already in poor health/ with mobility limitations/cognitive/sensory impairment.

In practice, the main results that will be finalized during the Mindful Ageing project and its completion are:

-         A Policy Framework Report that aims at influencing policy makers & organisations to support older people and their wellbeing in partners’ countries and across the EU.

-         A 2-3 days Bootcamp on mind & body wellness that aims at supporting older people to become more aware of the importance of mental well-being, and at taking measures to help preventing isolation and more serious mental and/or physical health problems.

-         Support Groups that aim to develop of a new mentoring & coaching methodology, supported by learner and training materials. Participants will be encouraged to set actions to help their mental well-being in the long term. Support groups will provide peer-support and networking with those who want to maintain a positive mindset in later life and thus boost motivation amongst participants and increase social capital.

-         An Online Academy that will include an online toolkit of resources and a network for both older people and support workers to make wider social and professional connections, access resources, exercises and tips to take practical steps to a more positive older age and to promote services for older people. Registers to the platform will be asked to sign up to a ‘Mindful Ageing Charter’, acknowledging their support of the project and its key aims.

This project is funded by the Erasmus+ European Programme.

Official website