Advancing healthy ageing in Greece: the WHO ICOPE protocol within the JA PreventNCD framework

The World Health Organization's Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) program is an evidence-based and user-friendly approach that supports healthy aging. Despite its demonstrated value, most healthcare professionals remain unfamiliar with its application in clinical settings. Structured training in the ICOPE approach could significantly enhance its adoption and contribute to promoting healthy aging. This study developed within the framework of the European project JA PreventNCD and aims to describe the protocol of a strategy for the implementation of ICOPE framework in Greece.

This protocol describes a prospective longitudinal study integrating both educational and research components. During the Implementation Phase - Theoretical Education, approximately 75 healthcare professionals will be recruited to complete training in the ICOPE approach. In the subsequent Implementation Phase - Practical Training and Research, trained professionals will recruit at least 200 older adults aged ≥ 60 years with a Katz Index ≥ 5. They will conduct ICOPE Step 1 screenings and Step 2 assessments, followed by individualized care planning and referrals. Older adults will be assessed twice annually over a 24-month period. Trainees will serve as field researchers, recording assessment data and uploading it to a specifically developed digital platform that supports standardized data entry, longitudinal monitoring, and pseudonymized data export for analysis.

The study is expected to enhance healthcare professionals' competencies in early detection of intrinsic capacity and functional decline and promote consistent use of person-centred assessment frameworks in primary healthcare. Biannual monitoring will generate the first national dataset on intrinsic capacity trajectories among Greek older adults. Findings will inform the feasibility, acceptability, and sustainability of ICOPE in Greece and provide evidence to support future scale-up and policy adoption.

This protocol represents the first structured effort to embed the WHO ICOPE model within the Greek healthcare system. By integrating professional training, community-based assessment, and digital documentation, the initiative aims to strengthen person-centred care, prevent dependency, and align national ageing policies with international standards.