GOLD – Getting Older with a Disability (2019-2022)
Entity which complete it
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Why is it a good practice of the Person-Centered Model?
European project developed between 2019 and 2022 that addressed the challenges of aging of people with disabilities, promoting personalized and dignified supports. The initiative, coordinated by the NGO Chance B Gruppe, focused on training professionals and caregivers in person-centered approaches, ensuring autonomy and well-being in inclusive geriatric care.
Person-centered approach: Used participatory methodologies that integrated the voice of people with disabilities in the design of solutions, developing an e-learning platform, a practical toolkit and pilot training programs. The approach guaranteed dignity, self-determination and active inclusion in decision-making about supports and care.
Integrated Assessment (Person, Family, Housing) and Life History
GOLD begins from the premise that ageing with a disability is a unique life trajectory combining long-term disability with the challenges of ageing. The project promotes recognizing each person’s life history, health status, functional abilities, social context and living environment when planning care and support. It highlights that support needs evolve over time — what a person needed in younger adulthood may differ significantly later — so assessment must be holistic and continuous, acknowledging changes due to ageing, comorbidities, social situation, family support, housing conditions and personal aspirations.
Personalised Care and Support Plan for the Life Project
One of the goals of GOLD is to design models of care and support tailored to older people with disabilities. Rather than applying standard elder-care or disability-care plans, the project advocates for personalised support plans that integrate both the disability history and the new challenges of ageing: mobility, accessibility, health changes, social participation, mental & emotional wellbeing. The plan envisaged includes supports that adapt over time — accessible housing, assistive devices, health care, social support, community inclusion — aiming to maintain quality of life, dignity and autonomy as the person ages.
Support groups
GOLD supports the creation and strengthening of peer support networks for older people with disabilities. Bringing together people with similar life experiences — long-term disability plus the ageing process — allows sharing of concerns, coping strategies, emotional support and social connection. These support groups can reduce isolation, foster community, provide mutual aid, and serve as platforms for advocacy, exchange of information, and shared learning about ageing with a disability.
Case Management and Resource Coordinator
The project promotes a coordinated approach to ageing-with-disability care: a resource coordinator or case manager role is proposed to ensure continuity of care, integrate medical, social, housing and assistive support, and adapt services as needs evolve. This coordination is essential to navigate complex systems — health care, social services, disability supports, elder care — and to ensure the person receives consistent, appropriate, person-centred care over time.
Highlined results
Produced transferable training tools, improved preparation of professionals in the social and health field, and systematically incorporated the perspective of people with disabilities in aging care. The project strengthened the capacity of services to offer person-centered supports in different European countries.
Inspiring ideas for other enviorments. It can works! 😉
GOLD shows that ageing with a disability is not a marginal case — it is a growing reality that demands specialised, integrated support. By combining disability care and ageing care in a unified, person-centred approach, societies can better respond to this demographic trend. The project’s model can be adapted in different countries: personalised support plans, flexible services, peer-support networks, coordinated care — all designed with dignity, autonomy and inclusion as guiding principles. It proves that inclusive ageing is possible when disability and elder care systems are bridged, not treated separately.
Other observations
Chance B Gruppe