The InTeO research group at the UMH has launched the pilot study for the POMA-Co project (Occupational Participation in Older Adults from a Community Perspective). This initiative, funded with 90,000 euros by the Generalitat Valenciana, is led by professor Desirée Valera Gran and will be developed over the next three years in various municipalities in Alicante.
Crevillent has been one of the first municipalities to join this initiative. A working meeting was held with representatives from the Crevillent City Council and the Specialized Center for Attention to Older Adults (CEA) to establish the foundations for collaboration in the study's development.
The project addresses the social and health challenge of population aging, seeking to understand how participation in meaningful activities influences the health and well-being of older adults. The main objective of POMA-Co is to estimate the prevalence of occupational dysfunction and analyze its association with indicators of health, well-being, and quality of life, as well as to identify community barriers and facilitators.
The study will combine quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Initially, evaluation tools for detecting occupational dysfunction will be validated. Subsequently, an observational study will be conducted with nearly 600 older adults from the province of Alicante, followed by focus groups to gather their experiences and proposals.
One of the project's key innovations is its community and participatory approach, which aims to involve older adults, professionals, local administrations, and entities to create more inclusive communities. The expected results will be used to design health promotion programs and public policies that improve the quality of life and well-being of older adults.
The collaboration initiated with Crevillent marks the first step in creating a network of alliances with municipalities and senior centers throughout the province of Alicante, essential for translating the results into concrete actions.
