Europe’s ageing population is straining healthcare systems. David Chadima explores how tech-enabled homecare can empower professionals, support independent living, and build a more sustainable model, with lessons from the ACE project.
An unprecedented demographic shift is testing the limits of European healthcare. Demand for care is growing substantially, with the proportion of people aged over 65 in the EU expected to increase from 21% today to 29% by 2050, according to the OECD. At the same time, the caregiving workforce is shrinking. More than a third of doctors and a quarter of nurses are already over 55, creating a significant experience gap precisely when it is most needed.
The strain on our healthcare workforce is unsustainable. Professionals spend countless hours travelling for routine check-ups and handling administrative tasks, an inefficient use of their expertise that leads to systemic burnout and drives talent out of the sector. For older citizens, the traditional system is often reactive, intervening only after a crisis such as a fall. The default outcome is frequently a permanent move into institutional care, removing individuals from the comfort and autonomy of their own homes. The current model of institutional, hospital-based care simply cannot meet future demand.
Empowering professionals and patients
This critical moment offers an opportunity for reinvention. A more sustainable and humane future is emerging, centred on strengthening care at home through technology. The aim is not to replace carers with technology, but to build an ecosystem that empowers both healthcare professionals and the citizens they serve.
Pioneering initiatives, such as the ACE project, are demonstrating the viability of this new model across Europe. By embracing innovative digital health solutions, we can help professionals work more effectively. Telemedicine can turn a time-consuming home visit for a routine check-up into a focused 15-minute video call, freeing up valuable time for more complex cases. Remote monitoring tools enable a single nurse to oversee the well-being of numerous patients safely, expanding their capacity and allowing them to spend time where it delivers the greatest value.
For older adults, this tech-enabled homecare offers a profoundly different future. A network of tools, from discreet fall prevention sensors to digital apps that support chronic condition management, provides the confidence and security needed to live fuller, more independent lives. This ecosystem gives individuals the support they need to maintain their autonomy in the comfort of their own home.
Orchestrating the future of homecare
Digitally enabled homecare creates a clear win–win scenario, where older adults retain dignity and independence, and healthcare professionals are supported rather than stretched thin.
Successfully navigating this transition, however, requires far more than technology. It demands expertise in implementation, collaboration, and project management to unite the diverse stakeholders involved.
As project managers of ACE, we support the partnership to:
- Run a digital community of hundreds of stakeholders
- Upscale more than thirty innovations that directly address care user needs
- Help over 150+ North Sea region homecare providers adapt to these innovations
The momentum for this transition is already building. We recently brought together 58 stakeholders for a webinar launching our latest report, Technology that Cares: Lessons from Homecare Innovation Across Five EU Countries. Drawing on insights from frontline workers and managers, the findings reinforce a crucial message: digital tools do not replace personal care; they enhance it, improving the quality of human attention where it matters most.
Beyond sharing knowledge, we are actively developing partnerships that will define the future of care. Our matchmaking efforts have successfully facilitated 22 new connections between homecare providers and technology innovators. We anticipate these promising partnerships will soon evolve into active pilots, further expanding the network of solutions available to Europe’s ageing population.
Work with us to drive better healthcare
In the Healthcare Innovation team, we believe that healthcare systems are among society’s most valuable assets, and we work to secure their sustainability for future generations. We do so by focusing on three main workstreams:
Tackling bottlenecks: Recognising the limitations of current frameworks, we bring stakeholders together to accelerate the adoption of innovative treatments and technologies, ensuring equitable access to quality care.
Facilitating the adoption of innovative solutions: Leveraging our sector’s expertise and extensive networks, we offer strategic insights into healthcare markets, competing technologies, and emerging trends.
Empowering patients & citizens: Through our experience in Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) and healthcare innovation, we empower patients and citizens to actively participate in the management of their health.
Want to collaborate or learn more? Get in touch.
