COMFORTage  project a member of our collaborative network has launched a series of online workshops ensuring that the solutions to be elaborated in the framework of the project would be aligned with real-world needs and have a lasting impact.

The Policy Workshop highlighted Digital Innovation for Dementia and Frailty Care. It aimed to discuss the value proposition of the services developed by COMFORTage and enabled participants- leading experts, policymakers, and representatives from COMFORTage project to discuss key requirements and assess to services proposed. 

Five JADE Health partners: the Ministry of Active Ageing of Malta (AACC) , the Public Health Centre of Ukrain (PHC) , the Croatian Institute of Health (CIPH), the National Institute of Public Health of Slovenia (NIJZ) and the Norwegian Directorate of Health (HDIR) took part at the online event that served as a platform to showcase the policy-relevant offerings of COMFORTage’s Virtual Health Platform (VHP), Training & Educational Toolkit (TET), Training & Educational Marketplace (TEM) and were engaged in constructive dialogues on actionable priorities and system-level transformation.

The workshop surfaced several new, policy-critical findings:

Key Insights and Emerging Needs

•    A call for standardized, digitally accessible diagnostic tools and faster pathways to early dementia assessment.

•    The urgency of building interdisciplinary policy working groups linking health, social care, education, and digital domains.

•    A strong interest in developing real-time monitoring systems and tools for citizen engagement and family-level feedback, enabling more agile, person-centered policymaking.

•    Clear emphasis on reducing regional inequalities and empowering under-resourced areas through inclusive digital innovation.

Policy Alignment with COMFORTage Solutions

COMFORTage’s integrated digital ecosystem resonated with participants as a timely enabler for:

•    Evidence-based decision-making via real-world data and AI-powered analytics.

•    Workforce empowerment through modular training resources and public-private collaborations.

•    Scalable, interoperable infrastructures that support integrated care delivery and ethical AI adoption.

The workshop validated COMFORTage’s alignment with policy ambitions, particularly around data governance, resource optimization, and prevention-focused strategies.

Barriers and Future Challenges

Despite growing momentum, the workshop highlighted enduring barriers: fragmented data systems, low digital literacy, underfunded public health services, and uncertainty around ethical AI deployment. Legal challenges in clinical research participation and inconsistent diagnostic standards also remain unresolved.

The Road AheadTo unlock the full value of digital health innovation, participants emphasized the need for:

•    Clear reimbursement pathways for prevention and early interventions.

•    Scalable, validated digital tools to support both professionals and informal carers.

•    Operational strategies for cross-sector integration, especially between clinical and social services.

As JADE Health and its partners are committed to continue advancing collaborative policy actions, the April workshop underscored the critical role of joint innovation, citizen empowerment, and systemic readiness in shaping sustainable, inclusive health systems for Europe’s ageing populations.

Let´s learn, share, and grow together!