Healthy ageing is about more than extending life expectancy. It also involves maintaining functional ability, independence and wellbeing as people grow older. This study protocol, developed within JA PreventNCD, describes the first structured effort to implement the World Health Organization’s Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) approach within the Greek healthcare system.
The initiative combines training for healthcare professionals with community-based assessment and follow-up of older adults. Approximately 75 healthcare professionals will be trained to use the ICOPE framework, while at least 200 adults aged 60 and over will undergo regular assessments of areas including cognition, mobility, nutrition, vision, hearing and psychological wellbeing. Where declines are identified, the approach supports more detailed assessment, personalised care planning, referral and continued monitoring.
The study aims to strengthen healthcare professionals’ capacity to identify early signs of functional decline and support more person-centred and preventive care for older adults. Regular assessments over a two-year period will also generate evidence on the feasibility, acceptability and sustainability of implementing ICOPE in Greece. The findings are expected to inform future efforts to integrate the approach into primary healthcare and support policies promoting healthy and active ageing.
Read the full paper in BMC Geriatrics:
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-026-07488-6