Big Picture Project Presented at the 2nd Long-Term Care Conference in Latvia

On March 6, 2026, Riga hosted the 2nd Long-Term Care Conference in Latvia – “Interdisciplinary Cooperation Towards Holistic Care.” The event brought together professionals from the health and social care sectors, institutional leaders, policy makers, nurses, and care assistants to discuss the future of long-term care and the importance of collaboration between different sectors.

One of the highlights of the conference was the presentation of the international project Big Picture, delivered during the second session by Agita Melbārde-Kelmere, RSU. The presentation introduced the project’s concept, progress, and future to a wide audience of professionals involved in organizing and delivering care services in Latvia.

Strengthening Competencies in Long-Term Care

The Big Picture project focuses on strengthening the competencies of healthcare professionals—especially nurses—in the field of long-term care. At the same time, it promotes closer cooperation between the healthcare and social care sectors, which is increasingly important in the context of an ageing population.

As populations age across Europe, healthcare systems face growing challenges related to chronic diseases, dementia, and complex care needs. These challenges require professionals who are not only highly skilled but also capable of working collaboratively across disciplines. The Big Picture project addresses this need by developing educational approaches and tools that support professional learning and competence development.

A Conference Bringing Together Key Stakeholders

The conference attracted representatives from a wide range of institutions, including the Ministry of Welfare, the Ministry of Health, major clinical hospitals, social care institutions, and organizations involved in care services. The presence of such a diverse audience created an excellent opportunity to introduce the project’s goals and discuss its relevance for the development of long-term care services in Latvia.

For many participants, the presentation provided valuable insight into how international cooperation and innovative learning approaches can contribute to improving care systems. Because many of the attendees are directly involved in managing or delivering care services, the discussion focused on practical ways to strengthen collaboration and professional development within institutions.

Project Achievements and Future Plans

During the presentation, participants were introduced to the work already accomplished within the Big Picture project. This included the development of learning materials, methodological tools, and pilot activities aimed at enhancing nurses’ competencies in long-term care.

The project seeks to provide practical solutions that can support both healthcare and social care institutions in improving the quality of care. By strengthening professional competencies and encouraging interdisciplinary cooperation, these tools can help institutions respond more effectively to the complex needs of patients receiving long-term care.

A particularly important topic highlighted during the presentation was the pilot implementation of Work Package 4 (WP4). Participants learned about the second round of piloting planned for autumn 2026, which will test the developed learning solutions in practice across different care settings. This stage of the project will help evaluate how the tools and training approaches function in real-life environments and how they can support professionals working in long-term care.

Conference participants also received information about how their organizations could become involved in the pilot phase and what benefits such participation could bring, both for individual professionals and for the institutions themselves.

Strong Interest from the Professional Community

The presentation generated significant interest among conference participants. Representatives of social care centers, hospitals, and other healthcare organizations actively engaged in discussions about the importance of strengthening nurses’ competencies and supporting continuous professional development.

Participants emphasized that nurses play a crucial role in long-term care, particularly when working with patients who have chronic conditions, dementia, or functional limitations. Strengthening nurses’ professional autonomy and decision-making capacity is therefore essential for ensuring high-quality and coordinated care.

Leaders of social care institutions also highlighted the importance of initiatives that support education, skills development, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Many expressed interest in the opportunities provided by the Big Picture project and in potential participation in future project activities.

Towards Integrated Long-Term Care

One of the key themes that emerged from the discussion was the need for more integrated long-term care systems in Latvia. Participants agreed that effective care for older adults requires closer cooperation between healthcare providers and social care institutions.

The Big Picture project was recognized as a valuable initiative that can support the development of such integrated approaches. By focusing on education, competence building, and collaboration, the project contributes to strengthening the professional capacity needed to address the growing demands of long-term care.

Looking Ahead

The conference also created opportunities to establish new partnerships and cooperation contacts that may support the further development of the project. Several organizations expressed interest in joining pilot activities or collaborating in future initiatives related to professional education and competence development.

Overall, the presentation of the Big Picture project at the conference represented an important step in sharing the project’s ideas and building connections between different organizations involved in long-term care in Latvia.

Events like this conference play an essential role in promoting dialogue, innovation, and collaboration across sectors. By bringing together policy makers, institutional leaders, and care professionals, such meetings help create a shared vision for the future of long-term care.

In this context, the Big Picture project serves as a platform for developing forward-looking solutions that strengthen professional education, support nurses’ competencies, and contribute to improving the quality of care for an ageing population.

Website of the conference: https://aprupesskola.lv/ilgtermina-aprupes-konference-latvija/