Criteria and Assessment of Assistive Technologies for Ageing-in-Place

Abstract

Participants: H.S.M. Kort (the Netherlands), T. Marquine Raymundo (Brazil), H Nap (the Netherlands ), M Zegwaard (the Netherlands), D. Laan (the Netherlands) & M. van Tilborg (the Netherlands) with as discussant K Shae (Switzerland).

ISSUE: Ageing can be in good health. Unfortunately, due to biological processes, ageing will occur with a high risk of both cognitive and functional decline, while ageing people desire to live as they have been doing before. Although ambitions differ across individuals a general ambition is to age-in-place. Ageing-in-place (AiP) comprises more than the living and housing conditions but also concerns being able to continue to enjoy activities such as sports, hobbies, work, traveling, shopping, and other activities including the activities needed for daily living. Technology alone is though not sufficient to bring about the necessary support for aging. Supportive communities helping older people to age in place could be a relevant asset as well. The same accounts for ambient intelligence technologies to support ageing-in-place by monitoring clients in the home to provide. an increased sense of safety and security (van Hoof et.a., 2011). Older people within their communities will use assistive technologies (AT) for themselves or to support others. Understanding their view on AT is therefore of utmost importance as well as understanding their view on AiP. This will give researchers appropriate directions for the design of AT, the development of appropriate use, access, affordability, and procurement of AT (WHO GReAT report 2022).

CONTENT Our symposium is designed to present different views on ageing in place and the meaning of assistive technologies for older people. The symposium will share data to help us understand that AiP by use of AT depends on older people's views, regulations, and policy, while the assessment of AT for AiP should be person-centered as well. Furthermore, the view on AT should be more than compensating for decline.

STRUCTURE Kort and Marquine Raymundo will elaborate on the concept of ageing-in-place from the view of older people, the view of professionals and scientists in AT. Laan & van Tilborg will report on experts' views in the ISG community on assessment criteria for AT in AiP. After this Zegwaard & Nap will present the development of two examples of value assessment metrics for AT for older people. In the end, a different angle on assistive technology for AiP for older people will be given by emphasizing the additional use of AT by demonstrating the use of canes and walkers from the perspective of internal and external arts. Shae the representative from WHO will act as a discussant of the symposium

CONCLUSION: the view of older people and their caregivers on AiP depends on the economic status of a country region. Challenges associated with AiP, emphasize the need for user-centered design and comprehensive support systems of AT. The assessment tool to be developed focuses on the interplay between what the technology offers and the concrete needs and person-centered care. The final presentation shows that AT could be used beyond the purpose of functional decline.

References

Hoof, van, J., Kort, H. S. M., Rutten, P. G. S., & Duijnstee, M. S. H. (2011). Ageing-in-place with the use of ambient intelligence technology: perspectives of older users. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 80(5), 310-331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2011.02.010

Global report on assistive technology. Geneva: World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2022. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO

Keywords: frailty, dependence, self-confidence, AT, care professionals, martial arts.

Affiliation: Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, Technology for Healthcare Innovations, NL

Corresponding Author Email: Helianthe.kort@hu.nl

Authors’ ORCID iDs: H.S.M. Kort 0000-0001-9735-1015,

Acknowledgment: no financial support was provided. We thank all authors and contributors to the abstracts.