The main goal of this project is to develop a European teaching and training module. We aim to improve the basic knowledge, skills and competences of students in social and health care education in the use of the theory of Positive Health. They will be trained to empower the clients they work with to deal with physical, emotional and social challenges in life — and to be in charge of their own affairs, whenever possible.
In the recent years there is a shift in thinking about health from a focus on the ‘problems or handicap’ towards prevention. We want to be in charge of our own life as much as possible instead of being dependant on care givers. Next to that is the problem of an aging population in a large part of the Western world, this is a huge challenge in Europe in the 21st Century.
The theory of Positive Health is dynamic concept of health. In this new definition Health is seen as the ability to adapt and to self-manage, in the face of social, physical and emotional challenges. In this project we do not only want to focus on the elderly, but also focus on a wide variety of target groups, as this theory can be of help to anyone to be able to manage their own life situation. The focus is on persons strength, not on their weaknesses. We all need empowerment to be able to get a grip on our own situation.
To approach health as is done in Positive Health gives us a new and dynamic way to put a person in charge of their own life and health situation. Even children can learn to take charge over their personal situation, as people in all stages of their life.
In this new definition Health is seen as the ability to adapt and to self-manage, in the face of social, physical and emotional challenges. The way to achieve this goal in this project is to closely cooperate and intensively work together with the project partners. Seven theme topics are selected from social and health care main client groups: child care, elderly care, home care, hospital care, occupational health (adult care), disability care and mental/psychiatric care. All of these client groups will be gone through using Positive Health Pillars for Positive Health: Bodily Functions, Mental Well-Being, Meaningfulness, Quality of Life, Social participation and Daily Functions.
