The aging of the population constitutes a universal public health problem, taking into account the specific needs of care for this vulnerable population on physical, psychological, and social levels. It is a major issue and represents a factor in modifying social balances in developing countries for the next few years.

The examination of demographic data concerning Tunisian society shows that it has taken the path of aging. According to data from the National Institute of Statistics, life expectancy at birth in Tunisia, currently, 76 years, will increase by 3 years by 2030 and the number of elderly people will continue to increase. By 2030, the over 60 age group should represent nearly 18% of the Tunisian population.

Tunisia has put in place legislative, health, and social measures to meet the needs of this vulnerable population, however, it turns out that they remain insufficient and even more with the new epidemiological context (impact of the Covid pandemic -19 on the elderly). 

 It is in this context that the TEC-MED project, funded by the EU and entitled " Development of a Transcultural social-ethical-care model for the dependent population in the Mediterranean basin", was born.

The TEC-MED model is a theoretical framework that was developed through a thorough participatory process involving all partner countries in the project Spain, Greece, Tunisia, Egypt, and Lebanon.  It aims to have a common transcultural social ethical care model to support elderly people across different countries in the Mediterranean.

TEC-MED model to address elderly’s needs in Tunisia

According to a study conducted in 2003 by the National Institute of Statistics, the loss of autonomy concerns nearly 10% of the Tunisian population aged 65 and over living at home. Dependency requires an appropriate program adapted to the local context. Health promotion and prevention of disability for older persons could effectively contribute to healthier lives with affordable costs.

In Tunisia, The implementation of the  TEC-MED care model will contribute to reducing the marginalization of elderly people and improve the quality of social services provided to them. 

The international online platform established serves as a tool to implement the social care model among the elderly and their caregivers. 

Within the implementation of this innovative social care  TEC-MED, a new organizational model will be designed to support cooperation and partnerships between public institutions and social service actors. 

The implementation of the TEC-MED care model in Tunisia will support:

•  “Successful aging” by personalized empowerment capacity for seniors, elderlies’ families? AND informal caregivers. In fact, The TEC-MED model aims to fight against the loss of autonomy, prevent disease, and maintain both high cognitive and physical function, commitment, and interest in life. Promotion of family solidarity through the help of relatives over the TEC-MED Training Agents who are working to empower the capacity of the target patients. The Coaching and training of elderlies, and families' caregivers will be accomplished through personalized interventions face to face or via e-learning services on the TEC-MED platform, and guides for good practices. 
•  Development of the pivotal role of social-care organizations and NGOs in charge of the social-care services collective solidarity through the reinforcement of good practices in social-care services for the elderlies. The coaching and training of these categories of technicians will be face-to-face and via e-learning on the TEC-MED platform.
• Establish and maintain a network of professional health personnel and providers of social services and NGOs equipped with the necessary skills and capacities to meet the care needs of the elderly.
• Promotion of the use of ICT for social-service provisioning; Technologies, the Internet, and ICTs could help the elderly to improve their quality of life, be healthy and independent, and get better assistance. Many elderlies with the assistance of their relatives were familiarized with The COVID-19 outbreak through the use of mobile health vaccine registration, mobile e- program Amen solidarity, and also the use of social media for communication.   This accelerated service provisions and changed the behavior and lifestyle of the elderly. 
  
  
  Creation of TEC-MED ‘s Social Care Elderly Unit in the National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology

The National Institute of Nutrition has created a Unit to host the TEC-MED SOCIAL CARE MODEL.  

The Training Agents are working closely with seniors and their family‘s caregivers. 

The intervention has two main components: The assessment component and the Intervention component

The intervention component is based on the results of the assessments so if any of the screenings are positive, an intervention will take place and recommendations will be given to address the issues

Interventions are in the form of education, referral to services, and contact with relevant institutions or personalized  capacity building of elderlies and their relatives. 

  The pilot phase in Tunisia will be accompanied by the Implementation of the ISO Quality Management System (QMS) 9001 of the TEC-MED Social Care Model.

In Tunisia, to assure the quality of the implementation of the model, TEC-MED Tunisian will use Donabedian’s model and also The implementation of the ISO Quality Management System (QMS) 9001 as part of the Implementation of the TEC-MED Care Model for Elderlies. In fact, The National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology has organized a cycle of training on ISO (QMS) 9001 performed by Mr. Saidani  CEO & QSE Expert at  DELTA EXCELLENCE on May 21 and 28, 2022. 

Validation activities will be performed by a certification enterprise through careful audits in which the state of implementation of the model is analyzed through the indicators developed. The model developed in the project will be validated by an external Expert. 

Conclusion 

The gradual aging of the Tunisian population is a major challenge for the future of the health and social system and represents a challenge for society, and for the public health system. The changes in demographic indicators and the restructuring experienced by the Tunisian family in recent years call for a reorganization of the approaches to social care for the elderly.

Through the development of the common TEC-MED model supported by software applications, the project can help to set a benchmark model for social assistance in Tunisia. In fact, In a second stage and as part of the capitalization plan, the Tunisia TEC-MED team, the National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology with the support of the stakeholders will enlarge the Implementation of the validated  TEC-MED Social care model at the National level in public, private structures, and within NGOs providing assistance to the seniors and home care mobile teams to commit the needs of elderlies.

 The project will also support cooperation among institutions for the set-up of laboratories of “ideas” for designing innovative social services but also adapted to the local contexts.