Engaging Patient Voices: BAG SELBSTHILFE’s Role in ESCAPE

At the heart of the ESCAPE project lies a commitment to improving care for older adults living with multiple chronic conditions, not only through clinical innovation, but also by ensuring that patient perspectives are fully integrated into the process. Funded under Horizon 2020, ESCAPE is developing a holistic, patient-centred approach that combines coordinated care, digital health tools, and multidisciplinary collaboration to enhance quality of life.

A key partner in ensuring that the patient voice remains central to this work is BAG SELBSTHILFE. As one of Germany’s largest umbrella organisations representing people with disabilities and chronic illnesses, BAG SELBSTHILFE brings invaluable expertise in advocacy, self-representation, and community engagement. Through its network of over 120 member organisations, it plays an important role in connecting ESCAPE with patient communities and ensuring that their needs and perspectives are reflected in the project.

Keeping Communities Informed

Throughout 2025, BAG SELBSTHILFE focused on maintaining communication with its member associations and keeping them informed about ESCAPE’s progress. This was achieved through established outreach formats such as the “Barcamp Selbsthilfe”, which is an interactive online exchange platform, as well as through regular updates shared across its network.

These activities ensured that, even as the project advanced through its clinical and analytical phases, patient organisations remained aware of its developments and potential relevance for their communities.

Looking Ahead

As ESCAPE moves toward its final stages, the role of organisations like BAG SELBSTHILFE remains crucial. Ensuring that results are communicated effectively to patient communities, and that future care models reflect their lived experiences, will be key to the project’s long-term impact.

By bridging the gap between research and real-world patient needs, BAG SELBSTHILFE continues to represent an essential voice within the ESCAPE consortium, helping to keep patient-centred care at the forefront of innovation.