WHO-ISG collaboration on assistive technologies for healthy ageing-in-place: A round table discussion

Authors E. Aspnes, J. Bergschold, N. Charness, M.L. Fang, G. Gutman, Y. Hsu, W. Kearns, H.S.M. Kort, T.M. Raymundo, H. Nap, D. Zandi, W. Zhang
Published in Gerontechnology Journal
Publication date 2022
Research groups Technology for Healthcare Innovations
Type Lecture

Summary

Assistive Technology (AT) is used at various points in the lifespan by those coping with either short-term or long-term impairments, which can involve living with chronic conditions and/or comorbidities. In the case of older adults, AT can support or compensate for the functional or cognitive declines that they are likely to face in later life. AT can be integrated as part of smart homes (see Figure 1 from van Dijken et al, 2006); and should be safe to use, effective, easy to access, affordable, and not seen as stigmatising. In addition, AT should support older adults to have a meaningful life while building self-esteem, and autonomy and promoting social participation and community engagement. For this roundtable discussion, we present and discuss a WHO-ISG collaborative project focused on Assistive Technology for Healthy Ageing. For this project, we consider applications and use AT not only from a medical standpoint but also situated within a social perspective in the context of Gerontechnology. Results and propositions according to the WHO-UNICEF global report on assistive technology were applied as a starting point for this project (WHO, 2022), prioritising the potential benefits to individuals, their communities, and society and with a focus on identifying potential barriers that may occur and how to mitigate them.

On this publication contributed

  • Helianthe Kort | Professor | Research group Technology for Healthcare Innovations
    H.S.M. Kort
    • Professor
    • Research group: Technology for Healthcare Innovations

Language English
Published in Gerontechnology Journal
Key words ageing-in-place, digital technologies, quality of life
Digital Object Identifier 10.4017/gt.2022.21.s.721.sp7
Page range 1-1

Technology for Healthcare Innovations