Rethinking care – self-help innovations for families and partners

Invitation to the Science-Practice Forum:
“Rethinking Care – Self-Help Innovations for Families and Partners”

On January 13, 2026, teams from Cologne University of Applied Sciences and Munich University of Applied Sciences will provide insights into key social science findings from the Pflegeschätze research and development project.

All information can be found here at a glance. 

In the project, researchers are working together with families of children with increased support and/or care needs. The researchers identify and document everyday solutions, support strategies, and innovative practices that can make everyday care easier. The aim is to collect and process this empirical knowledge and share it with other caregiving families, professionals, and the public via a digital platform – as a contribution to improving the quality of life of caregiving families and further developing social support systems.

The forum offers brief insights into:

•     discovered nursing treasures and their use,
•     co-creative methods for developing nursing innovations,
•     the Messenger treasure hunt,
•     initial results of the quality of life study.

This will be followed by an exchange in innovation forums (breakout sessions), in which participants can contribute their own perspectives on the further development and dissemination of the results.

Teachers, students, and practice partners from TH Köln as well as interested parties from social work, health, and participation contexts are invited to attend. In addition, the forum is aimed at anyone who lives or works with children with increased support and care needs – such as child and youth welfare professionals, representatives of medical supply companies and health insurance companies, local government and ministries, self-help associations, and affected families.