Meetings – BetterCare • COST Action CA22152

Core Group Meeting – Key Updates and Next Steps

bettercareditor — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 22:08:44 +0000

The Core Group of the COST Action BetterCare met on 3 November 2023 to review progress across Working Groups and revisit pending deliverables 📘. WG leaders were reminded of the objectives outlined in the MoU and the importance of keeping work plans aligned with the Action’s timeline to ensure meaningful outputs.

💶 The budget overview highlighted allocations for WG meetings, publications, virtual activities, and dissemination efforts. A dedicated budget was also confirmed for the International FORUM planned for early 2026, envisioned as a multi-stakeholder event that may be hosted in Helsinki 🌍. Thanks to lower-than-estimated actual costs per participant, more in-person interactions will likely be possible.

📢 The meeting concluded with an emphasis on transparency and internal communication. All WG leaders were reminded to upload minutes, plans, and outputs to the shared folders and to use the website section designed for disseminating updates. A two-week deadline was set to ensure all pending documents are made available. With these coordinated efforts, BetterCare continues advancing toward impactful, collaborative outcomes 💡🤝.

Management Committee Meeting – Key Highlights (27 October 2025)

bettercareditor — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 08:43:38 +0000

The Management Committee of the BetterCare COST Action met online on 27 October 2025 to review progress and prepare the next steps for the project. Members examined the budget allocations for the second and third grant periods, ensuring that financial planning remains aligned with the Action’s priorities and upcoming activities 💶💼.

🗂️ The meeting also revisited the rules established in the COST Vademecum, encouraging participants to propose new venues for future in-person meetings. Leaders from each WG, STSM, and Training School provided updates on their activities and plans for the upcoming period, with the Chair presenting the reports for WG1 and WG4.

📈 Significant improvements were noted in information management, particularly regarding the integration of new members into the consortium. The committee also reviewed the deliverables already nearing completion and identified those requiring additional focus during the remaining two periods 📝⏳.

📚 Finally, the published papers, those under review, and the ongoing manuscripts with potential for future publications were showcased. This growing scientific output reflects the increasing maturity and collaborative strength of the network 🚀📖.

2nd Training School – Wiesbaden

bettercareditor — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 08:43:45 +0000

In September 2025, we held our second Training School in Wiesbaden, Germany, dedicated to strengthening home-care safety 🏠🛡️. The event brought together young researchers, healthcare professionals, and practitioners from across Europe to explore innovative ways to prevent errors made by caregivers in the home setting — particularly those related to medication management 💊.

Participants from several European countries joined forces 🤝🌍 to address a key question: How can home care become safer for everyone involved? The programme centred on identifying the most frequent sources of mistakes throughout the medication process — from prescribing and storing to administering treatments — and on designing practical strategies to better support informal caregivers in their daily responsibilities.

One of the week’s standout moments ⭐ was the creation of a series of short podcasts, conceptualised and recorded by the participants themselves 🎙️. These audio capsules, designed specifically for informal caregivers, provide clear and accessible guidance to help prevent medication-related errors at home. Each episode walks listeners through the medication journey step by step, highlighting potential risks and offering straightforward, effective solutions to minimise them.

Through this creative and hands-on approach, we aim not only to engage academic and professional audiences but also to promote open communication with civil society 🗣️💬. The Training School represents a strong example of how interdisciplinary collaboration and shared learning can produce concrete, meaningful outcomes — all with the overarching goal of making home care safer, more reliable, and more supportive for those who need it most. 🌟🏡

Zagreb Meeting 2025

bettercareditor — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 07:29:00 +0000

Minutes from Working Group 2 Meeting
Zagreb, June 2025

🗓️ On June 26, 2025, the BetterCare Working Group 2, led by Prof. Paulo Sousa and Prof. Dr. Bojana Knežević, held a meeting at the University Hospital Centre Zagreb in Croatia. The day was filled with various activities (see the programme below) and began with insightful presentations by local experts on the topic “The contribution of informal care in long-term care for adults.” These sessions sparked meaningful discussions and encouraged the exchange of experiences among participants from different countries.

🧭 The group then focused on one of its core tasks—“Mapping and evaluating existing guidelines on informal care.” Following a presentation on the current national guidelines and regulations for informal caregivers in participating countries, gathered through an online questionnaire, participants engaged in small-group discussions. These discussions aimed to identify practical ways to develop user-friendly tools that would help informal caregivers easily access clear and relevant information about their rights and responsibilities in their respective countries. It was concluded that the questionnaire would be re-sent in order to collect additional relevant information from other countries.

📝 A dedicated session was also held to discuss the latest version of “The BetterCare Glossary/Taxonomy,” inviting feedback and suggestions for refinement. After the presentation, each participant was invited to write a comment for each item in the Glossary/Taxonomy form. Following the discussion, it was agreed that the Glossary/Taxonomy would be re-sent to participants via email in order to collect expert opinions using the Delphi technique, aiming to reach a consensus. The next step is to develop the BetterCare Taxonomy.

📚 The last session was a presentation of a scoping review (ScR) titled “Emergency Management in Home Care by Family Caregivers”, followed by a discussion on the research plan for a systematic review focused on preparedness interventions for informal caregivers and their outcomes.

📩 The next WG2 meeting is scheduled to take place towards the end of the year. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all participants for their active engagement and valuable contributions in the form of ideas, expertise, and shared experiences. 🙏

BETTERCARE WG2 Group Meeting 2025

bettercareditor — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 10:06:05 +0000

🌍 BETTERCARE WG2 Meeting – Zagreb 2025

📅 Date: Thursday, 26 June 2025
📍 Venue: University Hospital Center Zagreb, Education Center East – Room 2 (first floor)
📡 Format: Hybrid (in-person and online)
🔗 Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/99805287969?pwd=WTNuPDAjbh2f7q4xJdmcFaabZY16lN.1

🧩 About the Meeting

The BETTERCARE Working Group 2 (WG2) will convene in Zagreb to advance efforts in mapping and evaluating guidelines, educational resources, and interventions for informal caregivers across Europe. This work aligns with the group’s shared objective of empowering caregivers and enhancing safe care at home.

In preparation for the meeting, Management Committee members are gathering national guidelines and summaries in English. A shared platform will soon be available for uploading these documents. The meeting will help shape a structured, comparative overview of caregiving practices across countries, paving the way for future WG2 initiatives.

Here is a downloadable file with the corresponding timetable and facilities regarding access to the centre, accommodation, etc.

🗓️ Meeting Schedule

Thursday, 26 June 2025

09:00 – Welcome session
09:30 – Presentation and discussion: mapping and evaluating existing guidelines and educational materials
10:30 – Coffee break
11:00 – Presentation of the final version of the Glossary
12:00 – WG2 publishing strategy + preliminary results of the “Scoping Review on Emergency Management in Home Care by Family Caregivers”
13:00 – Lunch
14:00 – Open discussion
15:00 – Planning next WG2 online meeting (work tasks)
15:30 – 2nd Training School in September: aims and content
16:00 – End of session
19:00 – Group dinner (optional)

International Malta Meeting 2025

bettercareditor — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 11:42:18 +0000

Enhancing Patient Safety: International Meeting in Malta

Last March 17th, an important meeting was held in Malta, hosted by the Ministry of Health, the University of Malta, and Care Malta. The focus of the event was on improving patient safety, emphasizing how the emotional well-being of healthcare providers plays a key role in achieving better outcomes.

The meeting brought together professionals and academics from four countries—Germany, Spain, Malta, and Italy—fostering a collaborative discussion on strategies to support healthcare workers and enhance patient care.

This international exchange of knowledge and experience highlights the growing recognition that caring for those who care for us is essential to building a safer and more effective healthcare system.

Global Summit 2024 celebrated!

bettercareditor — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 12:45:12 +0000

This past November 28–29, Alicante proudly hosted the Global Summit of COST Action BetterCare (CA22152) at the Sant Joan Campus of Miguel Hernández University. The event brought together experts and professionals to discuss advancements in preventing home care errors and improving patient safety.

Over these two days, participants shared innovative solutions, participated in inspiring presentations, and engaged in collaborative exchanges that emphasized the importance of supporting caregivers and strengthening the quality of care at home.

With this successful event, we close the year on a high note and look forward to the next phase of the BetterCare journey. See you in the upcoming period as we continue working together to transform the future of care!

Global Summit 2024

bettercareditor — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 07:45:14 +0000

Venue: Miguel Hernandez University, Sant Joan Campus – Severo Ochoa Building – Conference Room, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Alicante (Spain)
Format: Hybrid
ZOOM Link: https://zoom.us/j/93509179263?pwd=Y6rtW90livtlWfXKprCOa4aUg8n6nb.1

Welcome to the Global Summit on Medication Safety in Home Care (CA22152), a crucial event aimed at addressing patient safety within home care environments, with a special focus on supporting informal caregivers.

Hosted at the Miguel Hernandez University, this summit will bring together experts from across the globe to discuss challenges and share innovative strategies for improving medication safety and caregiver resilience. The hybrid format will facilitate both in-person and online participation, ensuring a broad exchange of knowledge and experiences.

Thursday, November 28, 2024 – Central European Time (CET)

14:30h – Welcome and opening
Opening remarks by:
- Antonio Márquez (Director of San Juan University Hospital in Alicante)
- Pilar Aparicio (Technical Advisor, SG for Quality of Care, Spanish Ministry of Health, Spain)
- Domingo Orozco (Viceprincipal Miguel Hernandez University)
- José Joaquín Mira (FISABIO, UMH, Spain), President of the Organizing Committee
- Susanna Tella (LAB University of Applied Sciences, Finland), President of the Scientific Committee

14:45h – Inaugural Lecture
By Joao Breda (World Health Organization, WHO-Europe)
Chairman: Paulo Sousa (National School of Public Health, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal)

15:15h – World Café I: Identifying good experiences in the training and qualification of informal caregivers
Topic: Ensuring patient safety at home
Moderators: Susanna Tella (LAB University of Applied Sciences, Finland), Einav Srulovici (Haifa University, Israel)
Format: Online

15:15h – World Café II: Proposals to increase the resilience of informal caregivers
Moderators: Reinhard Strametz (Hochschule RheinMain – Wiesbaden, Germany), Bojana Knezevic (Klinicki Bolnicki Centar Zagreb, Croatia), and Andrea Geckova (Comenius University, FSEV, Institute of Applied Psychology, Slovakia) & Mercedes Guilabert Mora (Miguel Hernandez University, Spain).
Format: In-person

16:40h – Break

17:00h – Lecture: Medication Errors in Homes
Speaker: José Joaquín Mira (FISABIO, Miguel Hernandez University, Spain).

Friday, November 29, 2024 – Central European Time (CET)

09:00h – World Café III: Making safe home-based practices happen
Moderators: Milena Santric (Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia), Ricky Bitton (University of Haifa – Haifa, Israel)
Format: Online

09:00h – World Café IV: Designing social frameworks to prevent, support, and rehabilitate home caregivers after care errors
Moderators: Marius-Ionut Ungureanu (Universitatea Babes Bolyai – Cluj Napoca, Romania), Marina Odalovic, Valentina Marincovik (Belgrade University, Serbia)
Format: In-person

11:00h – Break

11:30h – Lecture (English): How to support informal carers’ mental health and wellbeing
Speaker: Claire Chanmpeix (EuroCarers)
Chairman: Sandra Buttigieg (University of Malta – Msida, Malta)

12:00h – Closing lecture: Roadmap for Strengthening Informal Caregiver Engagement in Patient Safety
Speaker: Peter Lachman (Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Ireland)
Chairman: Reinhard Strametz (Hochschule RheinMain – Wiesbaden, Germany)

12:30h – Closing Ceremony

Funded by: COST (CA22152) and Generalitat Valenciana (CIAORG 2023/145)

Management Committee Meeting 2024

bettercareditor — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 07:27:18 +0000

Date: October 24th, 2024
Format: Virtual Meeting (ZOOM)
Link: https://zoom.us/j/91800119436?pwd=DvAFscF51gYMotARuAFQtds2sw2zLR.1

Introduction

Welcome to the Management Committee Meeting of BetterCare, where we will discuss the progress and next steps of our action as we move forward into a new Grant Report. This meeting serves as a key moment to review the work done so far and present the proposals for the second funding period. We appreciate your dedication and participation, which will be essential to ensuring the success of this phase of BetterCare.

Agenda

11:30 am – Welcome
Opening remarks and introduction.
11:45 am – Summary of new partners and activities (STSM, TS, and C&D)
Presentation and discussion of new collaborations and recent activities.
12:15 pm – Work Plan of each Working Group (WG), progress, and agreements
Updates on the ongoing work in each WG, followed by a discussion on agreements and progress made.
12:45 pm – Second Grant Period proposals for the Work Plan
Presentation of strategic proposals for the second funding period of the action.
01:15 pm – First Grant Period Budget execution
Review of the budget execution for the first period and analysis of its impact on the set objectives.
02:00 pm – BetterCare Second Grant Period Budget
Discussion and allocation of the budget for the next phase of the action.
02:30 pm – Other issues (authorship rules, …)
Discussion on additional topics such as authorship rules and other relevant matters.
02:45 pm – Group photo and closing
Group photo and official closing of the meeting.

Initial Organisational Meeting – 2024

Super Admin — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 11:42:07 +0000

The next BetterCare – CA22152 INITIAL ORGANISATIONAL MEETING, scheduled for February 27th-28th, 2024, will be held in Frankfurt House of Logistics and Mobility (HOLM), Frankfurt, Germany.

The BetterCare CA22152 INITIAL ORGANISATIONAL MEETING is an important meeting that provides a chance for healthcare professionals, researchers, and other experts to gather to discuss objectives and deliverables, and determine the steps we can take together to make progress. The meeting’s objectives include shaping the working groups and assigning tasks to be carried out this year.
Participation in the meeting will be possible in person or online.

INITIAL ORGANISATIONAL MEETING 2024 – CET (FRANKURT TIME)

Tuesday 27th
9.30 am: Welcome members / Planning First Grant Period in Subgroups
12.30 pm: Lunch Break
2.00 pm: Continuing making Progress in Subgoups
5.00 pm: Networking

Wednesday 28th
9.30 am: Subgroup Presentations and Discussion
1.00 pm: Lunch and Closing the Meeting

1st edition of BetterCare’s Training School

Super Admin — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 11:36:10 +0000

BetterCare’s main aim and objective to improve prevention of caregivers’ errors at home and thus to increase patient safety relies on carrying gained knowledge outside of the network for it to be put to use and make an impact.

One instrument to make this happen is BetterCare’s Training School. Here, trainers from different working groups of BetterCare will share their knowledge with international trainees. Our key audience are multipliers and caregivers seeking to improve patient safety. We do not only want to share our knowledge, but also want to learn from you! We believe, that together we can improve patient safety and caregivers’ resilience to strengthen informal caregiving in Europe and beyond.

If you want to be part of this journey, apply to be a trainee of our Training School once the call has opened (first call: early 2024)! If your application is accepted, accommodation and travel expenses will be covered by a COST grant.

The location of the first edition of BetterCare’s Training Schools has been set! It will take place in the beautiful city of Lisbon, Portugal from September 18th-20th 2024!

Paulo Sousa, leader of working group 2 (Review and description of the State-of-the-Art of safe care at home) has agreed to host the first Training School at NOVA National School of Public Health!

To participate, please apply one the call has officially opened (early 2024)! Expenses will be covered by a COST grant!

BetterCare : Kick-off meeting-Brussels

Super Admin — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 10:19:00 +0000

The COST Action BetterCare was launched on Thursday, October 26th! The Management Committee members took part in the kick-off meeting in Brussels, Belgium at the COST Association for European Cooperation in Science and Technology. At the time of launch, 26 countries were participating in the Action.

Main proposer Prof. José Joaquín Mira from FISABIO Foundation in Spain was elected as the Action Chair and Prof. Reinhard Strametz from RheinMain University of Applied Sciences in Germany was elected as Vice Action Chair. Other leadership roles were also selected involving young researchers trained by COST. A Core Group has been established as well.

The Care Economy is a groundbreaking field due to population aging and the increase of non-communicable diseases. Providing safety care at home and ensuring people stay in their places as much as possible are current challenges around the world. Due to the increased complexity and intensity of caregiving at home, there is a greater chance of making errors that affect both the recipients’ health and the caregivers’ wellbeing. This Action joins efforts to ensure an error-free care environment at home. Cross-national collaboration involving citizens, end users, different disciplines, and perspectives is used to create an open dialogue and discussion among all stakeholders about the consequences of caregivers’ errors.