Mapping of Effective Technology-based Services for Independent Living for Older People at Home

Abstract

This study identifies and maps technology-based services which have successfully enhanced the independent living of older adults at home in and outside Europe. This is the first deliverable of the research project "Long-term care strategies for independent living of older people (ICT-AGE)". This project aims to produce policy recommendations for DG EMPL to support the Member States in their long-term care strategy, according to the EC policy priorities of the Social Investment Package, the European Semester and the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing. We found 14 different, mature and mainstreamed technology-based services for the independent living of older adults at home that effectively address a set of long-term care needs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that has managed to obtain a number of practices in technology-based services scientifically shown to increase the independence of older people living at home, improve the productivity of carers, enable better quality of care, and generate savings, contributing to the financial sustainability of the long-term care systems.