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Newsletter 3

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Editorial

Welcome to the 3rd M-CARE Newsletter.

It covers one of the most intensive periods of the project when the

structure of the training units was developed. The events and the materials presented in this Newsletter refer to January and Febru-

ary, 2015.

You can find also a brief overview of the training content, as well as the topics included in the M-CARE curriculums. We also in-

cluded an interview we had with Muhammet Murtaza Yetiş, a

member of the Turkish Parliament.

If you want to receive up-to-date information, please also follow the project website www.mcare-project.eu, as well as our social

media channels (Twitter, Facebook).

If you would like to contribute to the next editions of the Newsletter, please contact the editorial team at

interprojectsbg@gmail.com. The next edition will be issued in May 2015 and we will be more than glad to publish your materials if

relevant to the M-CARE aims and objectives.

We wish you a pleasant reading!

M-CARE TRAINING PROGRAMME

At the end of February 2015, the M-CARE training content was

completed. It has been tailor-made for personal caregivers with a

desire to enhance their knowledge and working expertise.

The course materials are now being organised in two different

learning platforms: one for use on a desktop computer and the

other for use on Android mobile devices. If the user wants to ac-

cess the full content s/he should go to desktop computer training

platform, while if s/he is interested in practical cases the Android

mobile device platform is the right place.

M-CARE Programme will include 14 Modules emphasizing on the

practical guidance and recommendations, namely:

Module 1 Didactical support explains how the training will

be delivered from a methodological and pedagogical point of

view. The Module outlines that the potential PCGs can access

the training material both via traditional teaching ways (face-

to-face, via textbook) as well as via online and mobile train-

ing environments. In addition, the online version has been

combined with an interactive community that offers PCGs the

possibility to exchange best practises, share experiences and

benefit from available training material (audio, video, text). A

gaming component will also offer the PCG the chance to learn

by gaming, while self/pre-/post assessment forms have been

embedded.

M-CARE TRAINING PROGRAMME

Module 2 Disability awareness gives thorough information

about the most frequently faced disabilities and their respec-

tive limitations and barriers. The first section of the Module is

dedicated to the three theoretical models, i.e. medical, social,

and bio-psychosocial models. They are used as justification

for applying different approaches in the provision of services

for disabled people. Then the module continues with brief

practical information about the limitations of clients with mo-

bility, hearing, visual, speech impairments and learning diffi-

culties. Based on the results from WP2 the partners decided

to include a specific part related to people with dementia and

Alzheimer syndrome which proved to be challenging while

working as a PCG. It ends with practical tips “How to act with

a client with disability?”.

Module 3 Communication skills is dedicated to the basic

communication between the PCG and his/her client with

disability. The module provides information and guidance on

how to establish good contacts, as well as improving the

communicative skills. Furthermore it addresses empathy. The

unit also gives important advice regarding disability etiquette

and ten tips to respect the client while communicating with

him/her. Another eleven tips for communication with people

with learning difficulties were also included by the authors of

the module. The modules ends with tips on “How to reduce

the tension” in communication with clients with disabilities.

Module 4 Policy provides information about the legal

framework concerning disabilities, the rights of people with

disabilities as well as funding opportunities foreseen for

the acquisition of assistive technologies and social benefits.

An important part of the module is dedicated to the PCG’s

responsibilities and how they are regulated in each partner

country. The module makes the PCG familiar with key

International acts such as the UN convention for the rights of

people with disabilities, the European Disability strategy 2010

-2020, etc.

Module 5 Social Inclusion focuses on the strategies to

enhance inclusion, what social factors inclusion promotes,

and the barrier that exist towards social inclusion.

Module 6 Psychological empowerment gives practical in-

formation on how to treat the client with kindness and re-

spect. It also consists of a number of topics related to ethics, as

well as addressed guidance how to identify personal needs

and desires of the client with a disability. A major part of the

module is dedicated to the prevention of depression of the cli-

ent. The module provides guidance for the PCG how to help

depressed elderly as well as how to distinguish depression

and dementia. The module presents strategies how to recog-

nize and prevent possible suicidal behaviour of the client with

disability. Another part is dedicated to the sexuality as a

physiological need and the associated risks.

Module 7 Physiological needs covers topics such as

physical status, nutrition, toileting and changing diapers,

health monitoring and technical assistance and knowledge.

Module 8 Hygiene provides the PCG trainee the basic

knowledge of general hygiene basics. In separated units the

trainee receives specific information about: general principles,

sources of infection, routes of infection, infectious diseases

and learning topics of individual hygiene (how to wash hands,

disinfect hands, shower, bath) and how to deal with food re-

fusal (i.e.: people with dementia).

Module 9 Daily care at home provides the PCG the basic

knowledge of daily care at home. The PCG is taught how the

house is cleaned quickly and thoroughly. There are recom-

mendations given when and how often to clean something

and also requirements which have to be considered in terms

of hygiene.

Module 10 First aid and risks gives essential information

on the topic of provision of first aid and the risks. The module

trains topics such as how to recognise a dangerous situation

for the client, to communicate the alert to medical services,

and to prevent worsening condition of the casualty waiting for

medical care. This module provides tips how to recognise and

to react in case of choking, severe bleeding, wounds,

poisoning, etc.

Module 11 Environment includes challenging situations,

such as hot or cold weather and maintaining of a suitable

temperature in the home environment. The next section of

the modules is related to recommendations which can help

the PCG to provide safe services and to advice the client on

how to live healthy and how to avoid substances that can

badly affect his/her condition – i.e. alcohol, drugs, nicotine

and caffeine. The module ends with useful guidelines in terms

of the possible usage of suitable assistive technologies i.e.

communication and medical devices.

Module 12 Mobility emphasizes on the basic needs of peo-

ple with disabilities and elderly people to get the opportunity

to take part in daily living activities by increasing their mobil-

ity.

Module 13 Leisure & Daily activities provides the PCG

some examples and basic knowledge how to offer leisure and

daily activities to the clients. Different ways of leisure and

daily activities are shown depending on the needs of a person

with a disability or an elderly.

Module 14 Burnout Syndrome provides general information

about the Burnout Syndrome and how it affects the produc-

tivity of the PCG. The module trains the PCGs how to make

a difference between stress and a burnout, as well as how to

cope with burnout symptoms.

The modules will be available via www.pcgcare.eu, including self

assessment forms for the (potential) PCG.

If you are a current PCG and wish to update your skills and exper-

tise, you may join the M-CARE training as a piloter. It starts in

April and will last till October 2015. You can be a piloter in either

Belgium, Bulgaria, Turkey or Germany. Just contact the respective

partner in your country to declare your readiness to be a piloter.

More information about the recruiting procedure will come soon on

the project websites.

Interview with Muhammet Murtaza Yetiş

Prof. Seyhan Firat and Muhammet Murtaza Yetis

This interview was done by GAZI University team, especially for

the M-CARE project Newsletter.

Could you please let us know who is Muhammet Murtaza Yetiş?

I was born in 1972 in Adıyaman. I graduated from the primary

and high school in Adıyaman. After I finished medicine faculty, I

graduated with a specialisation in paediatrics.

Being a doctor and a director, I have achieved plenty of works in

leading areas. In the Sifa Hatun Home Care Centre, which serves

people with different disabilities and bedridden patients, as well as

uses Tele-medicine applications, I have been awarded by the Min-

istry of Health in Turkey. I am a member of the Turkish parlia-

ment and represent the AK Party from Adıyaman. I am also the

director of the coordination unit for people with disabilities in the

AK Party. I am married and I have 3 children.

What are your future plans regarding disability in your

Party? On behalf of our party, we want to see all people with disabilities

in every field. We are working on different political issues regard-

ing this field. We are one of the leading countries improving the

social policies for disabled children. The sensitivity of our president

Mr. Erdogan and Prime Minister Mr Davutoglu did a lot in favour of

disabled children in our country. Part of the budget for this field

was increased with the support of the AK Party. Employability, in-

crease in the salaries and integration in the social life are some

areas where we have achieved progress. We have also planned

more initiatives for the future as well.

What are the reasons for establishing the Active Life Cen-

tres which are lead by you in Turkey?

It is the first model for Turkey for educating the disabled people in

employability, supporting their families for their social, emotional,

educational and economic status.

These centres are organised by directors and with specially edu-cated staff. They provide services to all kind of people with differ-

ent disabilities in all domains. It is constructed as a campus for their wellbeing and personal development.

What services do they offer in these centres?

These active life centres are not organised just for disabled

people. This project will involve the older people and old campaigners as well. The architectural barriers are minimised for

the use of disabled and older people and old campaigners in this project. These barriers are eliminated by paying attention to walls,

ramps, water, elements with sounds, colourful floors and different textures. All the vehicles can reach inside the buildings through

special paths that have been constructed. Performance stage, health units, recreational activity and sport units, social entertain-

ment areas, book stores and bazaar areas are established for common usage. These centres also include a library, barber, gro-

cer, occupational therapy areas, research and project develop-ment units, functional activity units, conference room, etc.

The services include individual care, family training and rehabilita-

tion for the disabled and older people.

What kind of activities are taking place in active life centres for the care of the disabled people?

The services that we offer in these centres are suitable for people older than three years of age. These services are: day care, night

care, periodical care ( daily, weekly, monthly), social, cultural and sport activities, occupational therapy, individualised special sup-

ports, rehabilitative activities and hydrotherapy, special education,

family support and psychological support. Psychological-emotional support, physiotherapy, social support

and care and special education is offered to the disabled people and their families between the ages of 3-70 that have at least a

50% decrease in their capacities caused by physical, mental and emotional disabilities.

Finally, the M-Care Project is developed for the training of

the people who take care of disabled and older people. What kind of support does your organisation have for im-

proving those national and international projects like M-Care?

In the case of disabled and older people we never ignore this kind

of projects on behalf of the AK Party Coordination Centre. We

always support all the projects which may contribute to the lives

of people with disabilities and older people. We may also support

serious projects with our other departments.

M-CARE dissemination events

Dissemination of M-CARE within workshop “Introducing of

e-learning as a tool for development of professionals’ com-

petence”, 21 December 2014, Stara Zagora

On 21st December 2014 Interprojects team presented the project

in front of 14 professionals directly working with people with

different types of disabilities. The project training curriculums

were well received and the content of the draft units was

described as helpful. Among the participants were managers of

sheltered houses and training centers who concluded that the

training modules has a lot to do with the practice and the

low-skilled workers can benefit from them. All guests received a

project leaflet and gave the Bulgarian partner their contacts for

further communication.

Dissemination of M-CARE at SGSCC symposium “Social

competences & creativity as a stepping stone towards per-

sonal growth, social development and employability”, 17

December 2014, Brussels, Belgium

SGSCC (Serious Games for Social & Creativity Competence) pro-

ject’s event focused on the importance of social skills and creativ-ity for people with disabilities which is fundamental to both social

integration and professional self-realisation. In the context of this event, also M-CARE was presented to the participants (Trainers/

teachers of special education, Social workers, People with disabili-ties, Parents/friends/colleagues, Representative organisations of

people with disabilities, Personal assistants / personal caregivers, Policy makers, Educational software / game developers).

M-CARE dissemination events

Presentation of the project during workshop “Development

of social services in Plovdiv Municipality”, 13 January 2015,

Plovdiv

The workshop was jointly organised by Interprojects team and

The Social Affairs Department of Plovdiv Municipality. It is a kind

of continuation of the strengthened relations between the

Bulgarian partner, and the senior experts from the Municipality

which were achieved during the seminar held at the beginning of

December in Brussels, Belgium.

The workshop was attended by 30 participants all of them working

in the field of social affairs. They received the M-CARE leaflet and

got information about M-CARE’s latest development.

M-CARE dissemination events M-CARE announced in front of the Turkish stakeholders

On 24 December 2014 Prof. Seyhan FIRAT presented good practices about European Centralised projects to nation wide dele-

gates of the Turkish National Agency

M-CARE publicized through the IncluD-ed portal.

In January 2015 an article describing M-CARE project has been published on the portal by the European Network on Inclusive

Education & Disability. The portal is popular among people dealing with education and social affairs.

M-CARE dissemination events

M-CARE presented in front of the staff from the Municipality of Zlatograd, Bulgaria

On 22nd February, 2015 the team of INTERPROJECTS LTD pre-

sented M-CARE project in front of 47 public servants from the Mu-nicipality of Zlatograd, Bulgaria.

As a result of the presentation the Mayor of the Municipality has

invited the Bulgarian partner to demonstrate the M-CARE plat-forms at a specially organized workshop in the next months.

According to the Mayor there are social and personal assistants of

people with disabilities who need to be additionally qualified and M-CARE might be a good option for them.

More information about the planned activities in Zlatograd will be shown in the next Newsletter.

M-CARE dissemination events

Mobile app to be used in training for students, teaching them how to support disabled colleagues

The M-Care team of the Dpt. of Communication and Media Studies of the University of Athens (UoA) established a close cooperation

with the Speech and Accessibility Laboratory and the e-Accessibility Unit for Students with Disabilities, which will result

in a mutually beneficial utilization of resources.

The UoA M-Care team had the opportunity to exchange good practices with Dr. Georgios Kouroupetroglou, who is an Associate

Professor at the Department of Informatics and Telecommunica-

tions (UoA) and leader of the Speech and Accessibility Laboratory and the e-Accessibility Unit for Students with Disabilities.

Both parties agreed to cooperate so that the content of the

ATHENA Free AT Software Inventory can be included in the Assis-

tive Technology part of the M-Care mobile the application. The AT software applications provided in ATHENA are presented in an or-

ganized and systematic way after they have been installed and tested in the Speech and Accessibility Laboratory.

It was also agreed that, once implemented, the M-Care app would

be used as a training tool at the two-day seminars organized by the Speech and Accessibility Laboratory for university students,

teaching them how to support disabled colleagues.

The UoA M-Care team with Dr. Kouroupetroglou (C).

M-CARE dissemination events

Presentation of M-Care to representatives of the Greek media

The UoA M-Care team was invited to present the project at a new

media seminar for journalists (26 participants), organized under

the framework of the “Kostis Palamas lifelong learning programme”.

UoA presented the results of the M-Care survey, emphasizing the

need to provide reliable and on the job training on personal care-giving practices. The differences between the legislation and PCG

practices among the project countries were also pointed out.

The M-Care mobile application mockups were then presented and the seminar participants were asked to provide feedback on the

functionalities and the initial design of the app. The comments were encouraging, as the journalists found the application user

friendly and useful for current or potential PCGs.

After the presentation, the participants received M-Care social

media links and information material to be disseminated through the media

M-CARE forthcoming dissemination events

At the beginning of May, 2015 M-CARE part-

ners will hold a workshop in Antalya, Turkey.

It will coincide with the 4th Transnational Part-

ners Meeting and will give Partners the oppor-

tunity to bring beneficiaries from their coun-

tries. Thus the event will become not just a dis-

semination workshop but a forum for exchang-

ing of ideas and practices from different Euro-

pean countries. In the next issue of the News-

letter you will find an invitation and Agenda for

the workshop.

3 June 2015: Interdisciplinary Symposium

“Social Competence, Creativity and Wellbeing”,

Plovdiv, Bulgaria: part of presentation

October 2015: presentation M-CARE at

ITAG2015, Nottingham, UK

1 December 2015: M-CARE conference, Brus-

sels, Belgium (more details in the next newslet-

ter)

3 December 2015: European day of people

with disabilities policy event – Brussels

(Belgium)

M-CARE Pilot Phase M-CARE pilot phase will start in March, 2015. All partner organizations, apart from the technical partner Athens University,

will conduct testing of the M-CARE training platforms with a group of preliminarily selected representatives of the project target

groups.

If you are an unemployed person seeking professional development in personal care or if you are a professional caregiver

and wish to increase your qualification, then you may join the M-CARE pilot phase in your country, if it corresponds to the

project partnership.

M-CARE transnational partner meetings The 3rd meeting took place as scheduled on 21st till 22nd January

2015 in Frankfurt and focused on the fine-tuning and finalisation of the training modules.

The 4th meeting will be held in Antalya, Turkey on 6-8 May, 2015, and will coincide with a workshop.

The final meeting will take place on 30th November till 2nd of

December 2015 and will coincide with the final project event.

Consortium Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey – Project Coordinator

Gazi University is one of the biggest universities of Turkey with over 68.000 students including 56.000 undergraduate

and 12.000 postgraduate students currently studying in its 171 academic departments. Contact person: Prof. Dr. Seyhan FIRAT

Email: sfirat@gazi.edu.tr

Ministry of family and social policy, General Directorate of services for elderly and disabled people, Turkey

The General Directorate coordinates the activities on preparing national policies and strategies aimed at prevention, education, employment and rehabili-

tation services, ensuring that people with disabili-ties fully and equally participate in social life with-

out facing any discrimination. Contact person: Mr. Tayyar Kuz Email: tayyar.kuz@aile.gov.tr

PhoenixKM BVBA, Belgium

PhoenixKM is a consultancy with extensive expertise in the field of education and train-ing that targets people with disabilities, but

also their stakeholders, while making use of the benefits offered by ICT.

Contact person: Mr. Karel Van Isacker Email: karel@phoenixkm.eu

INTERPROJECTS Ltd., Bulgaria INTERPROJECTS is a training provider, having its activities

fully directed towards people with disabilities and older people. Their team consists of experts in the field of acces-sibility issues, career orientation and guidance, employ-

ment, mentoring, e-games and networks of employers of disability etc. Contact person: Mrs. Tonka Cholakova

Email: interprojectsbg@gmail.com University of Athens, Greece

The Laboratory of New Technologies in Communication, Edu-cation and the Mass Media operates within the Faculty of Communication and Mass Media Studies of the National and

Kapodistrian University of Athens. The Laboratory serves re-search and educational needs in the domain of new tech-

nologies and their applications in communication, education and the mass media.

Contact person: Prof. Constantinos Mourlas

Email: mourlas@media.uoa.gr

Europäischer Verband Beruflicher Bildungsträger, Germany EVBB is an Umbrella-Organisation of 50 Vocational Training Centres in 21 European and International

countries and is based in Germany. In 2012 EVBB set up a “Quality Charter”, taking into account the actual

developments in European Quality Policy such as EQAVET and EQARF. Contact person: Mr. Fritz-Gerhard KUHN Email: Fritz-Gerhard.kuhn@evbb.EU