Great Honour for SDU Collaboration with Municipalities on Preventing Functional Decline Among the Elderly

By Bo Kousgaard, bkousgaard@health.sdu.dk, 5/24/2024

The Prevention Award 2024 was presented at the KL’s annual Social and Health Policy Forum.

Slagelse Municipality received the award on behalf of several partners, including Middelfart Municipality and SDU, for their extraordinary efforts in identifying particularly vulnerable, chronically ill elderly citizens for preventive programmes.

Paolo Caserotti, a professor at the Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics at SDU, has led the EU-funded innovation project (WIPP), which aimed to develop practical methods for early detection of frail elderly people aged 60+.

The knowledge gained from the project is now benefiting the elderly, as municipalities are better able to offer them preventive assistance, such as home visits for the chronically ill.

A Good Example of How Research Can Be Translated into Practice

Professor Paolo Caserotti is exceptionally pleased that the work with WIPP has led to the awarding of the KL prize to Slagelse Municipality.

-The prize highlights the importance of early detection of risk factors for functional decline among elderly citizens, providing municipalities with a strong evidence-based tool for targeted interventions to ensure the best conditions for healthy years and a dignified senior life, says Paolo Caserotti.

-But I am also delighted that the prize is a fine recognition that research from our department not only has scientific value but also a significant societal impact. WIPP-360 is a good example of how research can be translated into practice and of the successful collaboration between the university and municipalities, emphasises Paolo Caserotti.

Identifying Particularly Vulnerable Elderly People

-We are very proud to receive the prize, and personally, I am very proud of the collaboration between the municipalities and SDU. We have identified more than 1,500 particularly vulnerable elderly people using the model we developed together. We can see that the effort makes a difference for both the elderly and the staff, not only in Slagelse but in all municipalities, and that is the most important thing, says Gorm Rabølle, development consultant in Slagelse Municipality.

The prevention effort, called 'WIPP-360', uses a digital screening and triage model that categorises citizens as red, yellow, or green depending on their support needs.

The effort focuses on identifying particularly vulnerable chronically ill elderly citizens as early as possible through preventive home visits. Elderly citizens (65+) receive a digital questionnaire that asks about their daily life, well-being, functional level, and health status.

The categorisation helps ensure that those citizens most at risk of deteriorating health and well-being are more likely to be offered and motivated to participate in preventive programmes.

The project also includes simple but effective physical tests, which help staff screen for signs of early frailty and illness.

Facts About the Prevention Award and the Reason for Receiving It

Nominations for KL's Prevention Award were judged by KL's secretariat and a jury of municipal politicians, directors, and managers, as well as researchers in the social and health fields.

The jury particularly emphasised that:

• WIPP-360 provides a good basis for early detection of vulnerable elderly citizens at high risk of functional decline and loss of independence, who otherwise are not likely to participate in preventive programmes.
• The recruitment is broad and establishes contact with the most vulnerable citizens.
• Slagelse Municipality reaches citizens with chronic illness earlier, potentially leading to long-term savings.
• Slagelse Municipality systematically works with recruitment and has implemented the initiative in existing operations through initial interviews and preventive staff.
• WIPP-360 has great potential for expansion, laying the foundation for differentiation and prevention of health inequality.

Facts About the WIPP Project and the WIPP-360 Model

• The WIPP project's aim was to develop tools for identifying frail elderly citizens needing preventive lifestyle changes and to test preventive measures.
• The goal was for municipalities to better identify citizens at risk of functional decline or loss of independence and quality of life to implement early preventive interventions.
• The WIPP-360 model categorises citizens into green, yellow, and red categories based on well-being, quality of life, and self-assessed health.
• The model is used in several municipalities, including Slagelse, Middelfart, Odsherred, Næstved, Ishøj, Randers, and Varde.
• All 98 municipalities can use the model.