October 10-11, 2013 Novotel Gent, Belgium 

Because of the decreasing governmental financing, home care becomesmore and more important. Hospitals, homes for elderly people, nursing facilities and private care institutions are merging to cope more efficiently with societal changes & the growing shortage of nurses and health care personnel.

Market shifts and new strategies offer of course numerous opportunities for producers and suppliers of new products and services. The textile industry has to respond by seizing the newly offered chances in a dynamic way. Existing textile care & cure products must not only be improved but also expanded in function of the new needs and expectations of patients, professionals, informal and formal caregivers and everyone who wants to improve the quality of daily well-being. Technological developments in nonwovens, smart textiles, finishes and fibres will find successful applications in the care & cure sector.