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Description
It has been found that the existence of inequalities in access to health services related to social factors as well as geographical ones (Economou et al, 2016; Zafiropoulou et al, 2017) is greater in vulnerable groups such as those aged over 65 and with chronic diseases. Advocacy is considered as the basic strategy for achieving health promotion and prevention (Carlisle, 2000) in such vulnerable populations and in an area where the balance between physician and patient is difficult.
The aim of the project is to raise awareness, empower, network and help decision-making of elderly people with chronic illnesses and patient associations operating in the regional units of Achaia and Aitoloakarnania, including isolated areas.
Main Activities:
- Advocacy office for elderly patients (Frodizo) and advocacy of other NGOs (collective advocacy) as well as focus groups of patients'' self-advocacy (Frodizo, FFN Gr).
- Advocacy mechanisms will be developed in public hospitals in the targeted geographic areas through professional advocates and health care advocacy offices (Frodizo).
- Health professionals and local NGOs (Frodizo, FFN Gr) will be trained
- Advocacy Forum will be organized (The Best)
- Campaign for the promotion and diffusion of actions in the local community as well as the active participation of journalists (The Best
The beneficiaries are: a. patients over 65 years of age (with special reference to the most vulnerable groups such as those with or without legal capacity in Alzheimer''s or Parkinson''s disease, b. (eg, exclusive nurses) and informal (family) caregivers; Patient associations and NGOs active in the health and the elderly, d. Health and social care professionals of private and public bodies, E. staff of the Health Care Advocacy Offices in public hospitals.
NGO Frodizo (www.frodizo.gr) will be the leader of the project and partners will be the reportorial site The Best (www.thebest.gr) and the NGO FFN Gr (https://ffngr.eu/)
Summary of project results
It has been established that there are inequalities in accessing healthcare services, related to social factors, as well as geographical factors, which are more pronounced in vulnerable groups such as individuals over 65 years old and those with chronic illnesses. Advocacy is considered the fundamental strategy for achieving health promotion and prevention in such vulnerable populations and in an environment where maintaining a balance between the doctor and the patient is challenging.
The aim of the "e-TALOS" project was to raise awareness, empower, network, and make decisions for the elderly with chronic conditions and patient associations operating in the regions of Achaia and Aitoloakarnania, including remote areas.
In the framework of the project, the following activities were implemented:
Advocacy Office Establishment: Established an advocacy office for elderly patients, which included collective advocacy for other NGOs and patient self-advocacy focus groups.
Mechanisms for Collective Advocacy: Implemented mechanisms for collective advocacy in public hospitals within the target regions through professional advocates and advocacy offices for health service recipients'' rights.
Training Sessions: Conducted training sessions for health professionals and local NGOs.
Advocacy Forums: Organized advocacy forums.
Promotional Campaign: Executed a campaign to promote and disseminate project actions in the local community, involving journalists and the Advocacy Forum.
All activities were carried out online due to the pandemic, enabling the project to reach a larger audience and extend beyond the geographical areas of Achaia and Aitoloakarnania to broader regions of the country.
The advocacy office collaborated with Non-Governmental Organizations specializing in health, including ALMA ZOIS, AGKALIAZO Volunteers Against Cancer, MERIMNA Therapeutic Pedagogical Center for People with Disabilities, PEPSAEE, as detailed in this report. Additionally, in partnership with the 6th Health Region, the project engaged with public health institutions in the Prefectures of Achaia and Aitoloakarnania.
Through these collaborations, the advocacy office organized and conducted educational programs on patients'' rights and procedures for asserting those rights in case of violations. The office received over 10 complaints, thoroughly examined them, and provided specific recommendations to the beneficiaries. Letters were sent to notify the Ombudsman of the complaints, ensuring that the State could consider them in future planning.
The beneficiaries included elderly individuals, caregivers of elderly people with dementia or patients with chronic diseases, as well as health professionals in public and private institutions.
The project effectively contributed by addressing the issue of advocacy in a holistic manner. It listened to the needs of citizens and, based on them, designed and implemented an informative event about their rights as patients, as outlined and protected in the European Charter of Patients'' Rights. The target audience included both the elderly and their caregivers, employees of Non-Governmental Organizations, healthcare professionals in public and private institutions. After gaining knowledge, they contributed to the dissemination of the advocacy office, which resolved patient problems in healthcare structures. Notably, interventions made through the operation of the project''s advocacy office improved not only the lives of specific patients but also the lives of many people who might require these specific services.
A significant contribution is attributed to the educational guide, drafted by the project staff, and shared with a large number of people. The educational guide will remain accessible on the project''s website, providing information to interested citizens at any time.
It is also important to highlight that, through the advocacy office and collaborating Non-Governmental Organizations, some of the essential requests were communicated to the Ombudsman, who holds significant influence in defending patients'' rights.
Therefore, there was an organized implementation of an advocacy office, with a structured framework and regulations capable of mediating between patients and authorities in the region of Achaia and Aitoloakarnania. A dominant element in all actions was the empowerment of individuals to take responsibility for defending their rights.