Abstract:

Nowadays, there is a process of ageing population due to the larger number of older adults and fewer births. As a consequence, it is expected a substantial increase in the population aged over 60 years between 2017 and 2050 in every country. Bearing in mind this fact, in the last years European Union policies have been focused on facing the challenges derived from the demographic ageing though promoting active ageing (AA), as process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security to enhance quality of life. Under this approach, social participation is regarded as a key determinant to encourage active ageing.

The aim of the present study was to design a training programme to promote active ageing through the participation of older people in Non-for-Profit Sharing Economy (NFPSE) by using a co-created methodology. To this end, a co-creation session was organized with end-users (seven), professionals working with older people (two) and educators (two) in order to gather their opinion about contents, activities and tools that should be included in the training programme.

In the co-creation session several key aspects were identified in order to design a training program to encourage active ageing among older people. In particular, the results of this session highlighted aspects related to the methodology, content and tools to be used. Regarding methodology, it was agreed that the training could combine both face to face sessions and on-line activities by using an e-learning platform as a tool. As a consequence, it was considered to be important to measure the previous knowledge of end-user about digital skills and NFPSE, as a starting point, to guarantee the success of the training programme. Concerning the content, six topics, active ageing; digital skills; self-diagnosis; collaborative skills; NFPSE platforms and creation of networks and real collaboration, were agreed to be addressed. Each topic will be taught by 8 hours (4 face to face and 4 on line) apart from active ageing, which as key concept, will last 16 hours (8 face to face and 8 on line). Additionally, it was observed that location and schedules of older people as well as their accessibility to the Internet should be taken into account in the design and implementation of the training programme.

Hence, the results of the co-creation session have revealed some key aspects for older people that might have been ignored in a design of a training programme by professionals without the use of this methodology. Thus, the co-created methodology allows to design suitable training programmes to the real needs of the end users by involving them in all the stages of the process.

Keywords:

Active ageing, Non-for-Profit Sharing Economy, co-creation methodology, inclusive education.