The city of Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands, it has an increasingly diverse population with over 170 nationalities represented in its estimated population of 651,000 while almost 1.5 million live in its conurbation.

Following population decline associated with de- industrialisation in the 1970s, the population of Rotterdam has continued to grow year on year. Rotterdam is one of the youngest cities in Europe (reflected by good universities), with 30% of the population under the age of 25. Despite this, the city continues to get older, and the number of senior citizens in Rotterdam is growing. By 2035, 1 in 5 Rotterdammers will be 65 years of age or older. The number of over-75s in particular will increase. Given the "island effect" (densely built-up city retains heat) in Rotterdam, an increased risk of disease and mortality is to be expected. Rotterdam municipality has therefore started a local heat plan, which is part of Rotterdam's climate adaptation program Rotterdams Weerwoord (Rotterdam WeatherWise). The goal of Rotterdams Weerwoord is to make Rotterdam climate proof by 2025 as higher temperatures cause health problems among the elderly and the sick. Physical adaptation of the city means an opportunity for a more beautiful, multifunctional outdoor space with more chances to meet people. Climate change is not only a threat, but also an opportunity.

Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (RUAS) is one of the five largest universities of Applied Sciences in the central urban region of the Netherlands (the ‘Randstad metropool’). The university has as a mission to connect education and students to the city and region of Rotterdam and, if possible and needed, to the world. All faculties of the university offer practice based educational projects in their program to prepare students for their future. The main approach is therefore practice-based. The university hosts five knowledge centers in different fields of education. Specifically, the Research Centre Innovation in Care aims at innovating the approaches of both health promotion and long-term care. Students of RUAS in collaboration with research lecturers, professors, professionals, citizens and business partners carry out several innovation projects. By addressing real life challenges, such as how to manage heat, it is possible to gain knowledge and put it in into practice. Concrete activities include the daily practice of nursing homes, daily lives of independently living older persons and the curricula of education of future health care professionals.

I.S.R.A.A. is an Italian public senior care provider based in Treviso whose aim is to promote the highest quality of care and quality of life of older people living in their private homes, in nursing homes, in daily care centers or in smart cohousing venues. Furthermore, I.S.R.A.A. supports age-friendly environments and older people’s relatives by providing innovative knowledge and care to remain independent as much as possible despite of their functional, cognitive and social limitations. The institute provides also personalized consultancy, training, support and emotional relief to informal carers of older people suffering from dementia thanks to a dedicated Specialized Dementia Center. All the activities are delivered in a closer collaboration with the municipality of Treviso and the Local National Health Unit of the Italian National Health System. I.S.R.A.A. counts with the support of a European project department, named Faber www.fabbricaeuropa.eu.I.S.R.A.A. has a strong connection with local authorities: the municipality of Treviso, the province of Treviso and the Regional EU Ministry for EU Policies working on innovation in the social and older care fields.

Misericordia of Amadora is an NGO with 35 years of existence, providing services to 5800 people daily. Its services are based in 4 core areas: social support; older adults; health care and education. SCMA is totally focused on the development and delivery of methodologies, strategies, and models that fit the continuously changing profile of people’s needs, expectations, and preferences, in this way putting the person in the centre of the intervention.

In the scope of HOPE, SCMA will be responsible for the development of the guidelines for heat management, a set of recommendations on how to manage older adults’ care during heatwaves.

Altera Vita is a scientific research center and implements education and awareness programs, working with volunteers in the areas of Education, Environment & Culture, and Social Intervention programs at the community level.
Our alternative education programs became topical due to increasing social and professional changes in areas such as Culture, Pedagogy, Psychology, Health Promotion, New Technologies, Social Economy, Organic Farming, Environment, and Sustainable Development, which give the ability to specialize and update knowledge through non-formal ways of training.
The aim of these seminars is to make use of the new knowledge gained by the participants and their application in their professional, personal and social life. Our distance learning system is based on open sourse programs and the use of our e-Learning MOODLE platform. Actually, we participate in a lot of ERASMUS + projects and we have the coordination of the development of E-Courses for these projects. Altera Vita participates in the European Network of Social Authorities. ENSA is a network of cities and European Regions that has the aim of promoting international cooperation in the social field.