A new concept was created since 2017, based on the desire to implement Smart Healthy Age-Friendly Environments (SHAFE) across Europe, fostering happier and healthier people in all communities. This idea took shape and became a solid movement.

SHAFE began as a Thematic Network, approved by the European Commission, to draw policy makers, organisations and citizens’ attention to the need of better alignment between health, social care, built environments and ICT, both in policy and funding and delivered a Joint Statement and a Framing Paper in December 2018 to the European Commission and Member States. 

After this, SHAFE evolved to a European Stakeholders Network, which currently has over 170 partner organisations and is coordinated by Carina Dantas and Willeke van Staalduinen. 

It is working to achieve better COOPERATION and IMPLEMENTATION, as the major challenges for the next period, as stated in the Position Paper released in 2020, with recommendations that aim to promote healthier environments for all citizens and make environments accessible, sustainable and reachable for all, with the support of ICT.

The pandemic has uncovered the major opportunities and benefits of turning digital. However, single digital solutions are not the panacea to all the societal challenges. Citizens across different age groups also need personal human contact; they need to meet, to talk to each other, to hug and to love. Digitalization cannot replace this human need but can be a powerful vehicle to support people. The scenario during 2021 is an opportunity for the digital revolution to be well thought and implemented, if all the adequate challenges are well considered and tackled.

The Smart Healthy Age-Friendly Environments Network will thus focus on the narrative, debate, disclosure and knowledge translation of smart digital solutions and of solutions to optimize the physical and social environments of individuals in a concerted manner, bringing together also the domains of health and social care.  The Position Paper will also provide indicators to measure progress and success on the realization of SHAFE.

In 2021-2023, SHAFE will focus on the following areas:

CITIZENS

1. To be digitally skilled
2. To be aware and understand the benefits and challenges on the sharing of their data
3. To be engaged in healthier lifestyles (including through increased health literacy)
4. To participate and engage (in the democratic life)
5. To maintain or improve as much as possible their social networks and relationships

ENVIRONMENTS

1. To retrofit and adapt the housing stock
2. To foster accessible and adapted public spaces and transport
3. To implement climate neutral solutions
4. To promote health & wellbeing in the workplace

HEALTH AND CARE

1. To promote reliable, safe and accessible big data
2. To implement robust and interoperable digital infrastructures
3. To foster integrated, personalized, affordable and person-centered solutions (new pathways)
4. To implement guidelines and long-term funding solutions/business models
5. To train care professionals on digital skills