Peer visit to Czech Republic: Vysočina's social care facilities

From pilot to practice: How Vysočina’s care facilities are paving the way for smarter elderly care

The peer review visit to three innovative care centers in the Vysočina Region — Sociální centrum Kraje Vysočina – Domov Ždírec , Integrované centrum sociálních služeb Jihlava , and ALZHEIMER HOME Jihlava — highlighted more than just promising technology. It underscored the growing need to translate pilot implementation experience and results into sustainable, everyday solutions in elderly care.

Blending technology with care

Held over two intensive days in April 2025, the program brought together stakeholders and project partners from across the region to witness the integration of assistive technologies - such as social robots and interactive cubes and a portable vital sign diagnostic tool - designed to enhance cognitive stimulation, relieve staff workload, and improve the overall quality of life for elderly people.

While participants praised the technologies' innovative edge and the region's strategic commitment, the review made one thing clear: the road from pilot to permanence requires more than enthusiasm. It requires thoughtful implementation, technical reliability, and long-term vision. Here are some of the recommendations of partners for successful pilot implementation.

Strengthen implementation consistency across facilities

Despite sharing goals, the participating care centers showed inconsistent levels of adoption and staff preparedness. The recommendation? Appoint local "tech champions" to drive momentum, tailor training to fit each facility’s reality, and promote shared learning through peer exchange. These steps would ensure that technologies don’t just arrive - they thrive.

Improve technical reliability and user experience
Several usability issues like weak Wi-Fi, low robot voice volume, and overly complex interfaces hindered the potential of these tools. The report advocates for technical fine-tuning in real-world conditions, better onboarding processes, and user-friendly features like adjustable settings or subtitles. Feedback loops and regular content updates (think personalized music or humor) were also suggested to keep users engaged over time.

Plan for long-term sustainability and scale-up
A standout recommendation was to move beyond the pilot phase with a clear sustainability strategy. This includes defining post-project responsibilities, securing political and financial backing, and considering scalable models (such as regional franchises). Crucially, facilities should collect data that proves real-world impact like time saved or increased engagement to support further investment and expansion.

Beyond the SWOT

The SWOT analysis offered a helpful snapshot: highlighting strengths such as motivated staff and innovative infrastructure, while also noting technical and adoption-related challenges. But the deeper takeaway lies in the forward-looking recommendations that bridge ambition with actionable strategy.

With the right mix of planning, partnership, and adaptability, Vysočina’s pilot project could serve as a blueprint not just for the Czech Republic, but for any region striving to modernize elderly care through human-centered innovation.

Equally important is the value of these peer meetings themselves, which facilitate cross-country learning and enrich the collective knowledge of the consortium. The fine-tuned agenda, smoothly coordinated logistics by the host, and the openness and dedication of the strategic associated partners participating in the pilot actions underscored just how vital such peer visits are to the success of the overall initiative.

Facilities and Parter Institutes visited:

• Sociální centrum Kraje Vysočina – Domov Ždírec (SOCKV):
  https://www.domovzdirec.cz

• Integrované centrum sociálních služeb Jihlava (ICSSJ):
  https://www.icss.cz

• ALZHEIMER HOME Jihlava:
  https://www.alzheimerhome.cz/jihlava

·        Regional Office – Kraj Vysočina

·        Faculty of Management, Prague University of Economics and Business

https://fm.vse.cz/english/information-about-the-faculty/

Written by Agnes Makai, Semmelweis HSMTC, 23.06.2025.