Synapsis Cooperativa Sociale operates in the socio-healthcare sector, offering a wide range of services aimed at improving the quality of life of disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals. Founded in 2014, the cooperative’s mission is to foster social inclusion through innovative care models that enhance accessibility, reduce hospital admissions, and support long-term health and well-being — especially for those with chronic illnesses, disabilities, or limited mobility.

Headquartered in Reggio Calabria, Italy, Synapsis Cooperativa Sociale identified the need for more efficient, affordable, and accessible care services. Synapsis responds to critical gaps in care by deploying integrated and technology-enhanced solutions. These include home healthcare, protected hospital discharges, telemedicine, remote emergency assistance, and transport services for individuals in difficulty. 

Its activities span across multiple domains:

• Socio-healthcare services, such as domiciliary nursing, rehabilitative and medical care (both at home and in specialised centres), delivery of medicines and groceries via electric vehicles, and the management of assisted living facilities, Alzheimer’s units, and centres for palliative care or eating disorders.
• Educational services, including after-school programmes, early childhood education, social reintegration pathways, creative labs, and targeted interventions for families facing complex socio-pedagogical challenges.
• Consultancy and strategic support, offered to both public and private institutions, from helping municipalities evaluate outsourcing models or service concessions (e.g., public-private partnerships, accreditations) to co-designing governance protocols and conducting research and training in welfare innovation. 

In line with its mission, Synapsis has become a key local actor in developing holistic, community-based care, blending hands-on support with ICT solutions and cross-sector collaboration to address not just medical needs, but also the social and educational dimensions of health.

The Roadblocks

Several challenges exist within the region's healthcare landscape:

• Limited healthcare access: Many individuals in urban and rural areas struggle to access timely healthcare due to inadequate facilities or geographical isolation.
• High hospital admission rates: Individuals often enter hospitals or long-term care facilities because of a lack of home healthcare options, leading to unnecessary admissions and increased healthcare costs.
• Lack of healthcare coordination: Fragmentation between healthcare providers and the absence of seamless communication between services can result in delayed or fragmented care for patients, leading to inefficiencies. 

These challenges create significant barriers to providing effective and accessible healthcare, particularly for those in vulnerable situations.

The Game-Changing Projects

Synapsis has implemented two key projects designed to overcome these challenges:

Serenity Life

The Serenity Life project, a collaboration between Synapsis Cooperativa Sociale and S.A.D.Ma.T. ODV, aims to provide socio-healthcare assistance at home, delivering cost-effective, competent, and timely care services to individuals in the city of Reggio Calabria and nearby municipalities. This initiative was particularly essential during the COVID-19 pandemic, when healthcare systems were under immense strain. The project focuses on reducing unnecessary hospital admissions and long-term rehabilitation stays by providing alternative care options, allowing patients to remain at home and avoid institutionalisation. Services include medical visits, physiotherapy, and assistance for elderly individuals or those with chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, and more.

Telemedicine and Home Health Care

The Telemedicine and Home Health Care project leverages modern ICT technologies to enhance the delivery of healthcare services, particularly to individuals in urban and rural areas that lack access to adequate medical facilities. The project involves remote consultations, tele-assistance, and home care services for patients with terminal diseases, chronic conditions, and complex medical needs. This initiative aims to reduce the strain on hospitals by enabling patients to receive care at home, improving the coordination between healthcare providers, and supporting better outcomes for patients through more personalised treatment options.

Both projects address the issues of limited access to healthcare and high hospital admission rates by shifting the focus from institutional care to community-based, home-centred care.

Key Takeaways

The implementation of these projects has revealed several valuable lessons:

• Flexibility and personalisation: Tailoring healthcare services to individual needs, especially for patients with chronic conditions or those requiring long-term care, is essential for improving outcomes and ensuring satisfaction.
• Technology’s role in healthcare: The integration of telemedicine into home healthcare services has enabled seamless coordination between healthcare providers and patients, improving both accessibility and the quality of care.
• Community engagement: The success of the projects has been bolstered by strong community involvement and collaboration with local organisations, which helped gain trust and support for the services provided.
• Cost-effective healthcare models: The projects demonstrate that with careful resource management, it is possible to deliver high-quality care without placing excessive financial strain on healthcare systems, making it accessible to a larger population.

The Future of Healthcare

Synapsis Cooperativa Sociale has demonstrated that innovative approaches, such as the Serenity Life and Telemedicine and Home Health Care projects, can effectively address the challenges of limited healthcare access, high hospital admission rates, and fragmented care. By focusing on community-based care models and leveraging modern technology, Synapsis has been able to deliver high-quality services to those who need them most, improving both patient outcomes and the sustainability of the healthcare system.

These projects serve as a model for other regions to adopt similar strategies, showing that integration between healthcare providers, social services, and technology can create more effective, accessible, and cost-efficient healthcare systems.