Dear colleagues,
We are pleased to share with you the latest updates from the BetterCare COST Action, highlighting the progress of our working groups in promoting safer, more supportive home care. This edition includes key activities, research outputs, training initiatives, and upcoming events- all aimed at strengthening the role of informal caregivers and improving home-based care practices.
Take a look at what’s been happening across our network.
Overview
Working Group 1 (WG1) focuses on strengthening BetterCare’s visibility, reach and impact by supporting communication efforts, stakeholder engagement, and strategic international collaboration 🤝📢. Through coordinated communication activities, high-level events and engagement with international stakeholders, WG1 plays a key role in sustaining cross-border dialogue on safe, person-centred and resilient home care systems 🏠💙
Website & Communication Tools
Status: In Progress
Official BetterCare website: https://cost-bettercare.euÂ
BetterCare Podcast now online 🎙️: https://cost-bettercare.eu/podcast/
Annual and Final ReportsÂ
Status: Initiated
Preparations for project reporting and communication deliverables are ongoing ⏳✍️
International Workshops & ForumsÂ
Status: Completed
International Malta Meeting – March 17, 2024 🇲🇹
Co-hosted by the Ministry of Health, the University of Malta and Care Malta, this high-level international event focused on advancing patient safety by addressing the emotional resilience and well-being of the healthcare workforce 🧠❤️, underscoring the critical role that emotional support for care providers plays in improving clinical outcomes.
Participants from Germany, Spain, Malta, and Italy engaged in cross-border dialogue on improving support systems for care professionals and strengthening clinical outcomes. 🌍💬
7th Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety – April 3–4, 2024
Held in Mandaluyong, Philippines, the summit addressed international challenges in patient
safety, misinformation and workforce support.
As part of BetterCare’s strategic engagement, new partnerships were formed with national Ministries of Health, global advocacy organisations, universities and key institutions such as:
o World Health Organization (WHO): who.int
o ISQua – International Society for Quality in Health Care: isqua.org
This event contributed to a stronger global consensus on the importance of person-centred
care, healthcare workforce sustainability and system resilience.
BetterCare Presentation at the University of Medicine Innsbruck
BetterCare and the “Second Victim” concept were presented at the University of Medicine
in Innsbruck.
Global Summit on Medication Safety in Homecare – Nov 28–29, 2024, Alicante, Spain
Attended by 43 participants in person and 59 virtually, this summit addressed challenges in
medication safety in home care.
Key topics included:
o Informal caregiver training
o Strategies to reduce medication errors
o Mental health support for care providers
