User centred Independent Living: the freedom to roam
Lead Research Organisation:
Northumbria University
Department Name: Fac of Health and Life Sciences
Abstract
Traditional models of care are facing new and unprecedented challenges as our older population grows. Our elders are living longer lives and accordingly coping with more long-term illnesses. Inevitably this places an increased and unsustainable burden on our health and social services. In addition, family members are often required to act as unprofessional carers, resulting in more stress and carer illness. Hybrid human-technology solutions can alleviate this problem, supporting independence, prevention, early intervention and management of personal health as well as participation in the community and the workforce. If we can improve individual engagement with technology and use this to access traditional services more efficiently, then we can improve the lifestyle of older adults and the management of long-term health conditions. For those suffering chronic health conditions, improved access to information and services can promote independence for patients and carers; allowing them to interact in an efficient and timely manner with health and care professionals when required.Our project aims to develop an intuitive independent living solution that harnesses existing technologies and is capable of working in the home, the community or in remote locations away from home. The solution must provide both information and advocacy and must support the safety of the user whilst protecting privacy and personal choice. Further, the solution must be modular to allow additional functionality such as safety monitoring, telecare and telehealth, social networking and transaction processing to be added.We believe our approach is truly innovative as we are looking to develop services and solutions that will be effective for the 'worried well' and 'unprofessional' carers as well as front-line agencies such as social services. We will seek solutions that are tailored to the needs and expertise of the customer and that are benefit versus technology lead. We will, therefore, work with Broadband Capital to use the ubiquitousness of the TV, but ensure that the solution(s) will also work across PCs and mobile devices, thus increasing consumer reach. To develop modular and scaleable, anytime, anyplace, anywhere solutions applicable for consumers and agencies, we have sought the commercial and technical expertise of leading technology organisations. Finally, ensuring we 'close the loop' we are utilising the expertise of partners such as Scottish Centre for Telehealth and Essentia to focus on what happens when an event trigger is activated and human intervention is required.
Publications
Coventry L
(2011)
Achieving lifestyle aspirations through assisted living technology
Thomas L
(2014)
An older adult perspective on digital legacy
Bright A
(2013)
Assistive technology for older adults
Greathead D
(2012)
Deriving requirements for an online community interaction scheme
Thomas L
(2013)
Location tracking via social networking sites
Thomas L
(2013)
Location tracking: views from the older adult population.
in Age and ageing
Description | The aim of this project was to provide user-centred research support to an industry-led TSB project with the aim of designing an information service for older adults that would improve quality of life through empowerment and improved choice via a variety of apps, including those employing location based services. The resulting Freedom to Roam (FtR), is a purpose designed application for use on Android platforms specifically for older adults. FtR is designed to incorporate 3rd party remote access via an internet enabled technological device such as PC or laptop to enable technical and service support. The aim of the application is to provide both a channel of communication such as one touch screen contact request or messaging, and a source of technological and service support to the end user from a family member or, a professional carer with multiple charges. The concept behind this service is to maintain and encourage mobility in older adults which will encourage social integration and wellbeing. User-centred, participatory design processes were employed throughout the development of the service and these included technology tea-parties with older adults and the use of card-sort methodologies to prioritise services provided. Two three-week field trials, involving 45 older adults, were used to evaluate the service offer. |
Exploitation Route | The commercial aspects of the work are being taken forward by the i-focus project http://ifocus-dallas.com/pub/ and by the EU FP7 Dali project (2011-2014. Further, looking local, the industry partner in the grant, has developed the freedom to roam marketplace as a commercial offer - see https://lookinglocal.gov.uk/ftr/ Finally, aspects of this work are integrated into a new project: ACANTO: A CyberphysicAl social NeTwOrk using robot friends (H2020-PHC-2014-single-stage, 2015-2018). Total funding Euro 4,295,755 |
Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Healthcare |
URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211647/S22_Report_2012-13__2__FINAL.pdf |
Description | Findings influenced the design of services to older adults by Kirklees council |
First Year Of Impact | 2007 |
Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Healthcare |
Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
Description | Freedom to Roam Marketplace |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | The Freedom to Roam Marketplace brings digital services for Ambient Assisted Living and successful ageing into one easy to navigate marketplace, making services more accessible to older adults, healthcare professionals and carers. |
URL | http://ageinginnovators.org/2013/02/25/freedom-to-roam-marketplace/ |
Description | ACANTO: A CyberphysicAl social NeTwOrk using robot friends |
Amount | € 4,295,755 (EUR) |
Funding ID | Project reference: 643644 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Department | Horizon 2020 |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 02/2015 |
End | 08/2018 |
Description | FP7 |
Amount | € 3,022,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 288917 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Department | Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 11/2011 |
End | 10/2014 |
Description | New Dynamics of Ageing |
Amount | £246,646 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ES/F015992/1 |
Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2008 |
End | 12/2009 |
Description | looking local and freedom to roam |
Organisation | Kirklees Council |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Looking Local were the major software partners for the Freedom to Roam project - they developed the Freedom to Roam Marketplace |
Collaborator Contribution | Software development and marketing |
Impact | See outputs for entire project |