Themes
The overall topic of the AAL Forum 2019 will be:
Smarter practical implementation of digital solutions to enhance active and healthy living
Six thematic areas were identified within this scope by the Programme Committee of the 2019 AAL Forum.
THEME 1: Successful implementation – How do we ensure better, more efficient and long-term implementation?
Not all digital solutions are implemented successfully in the AAL domain. In some cases, technology is too costly to be adopted or has a too heavy infrastructure for smooth installation; in some other cases, social and health care providers do not even know about the best tech solutions available. In addition, caregivers in some realities lack the required digital skills to operate new technologies. In many other cases, it may well be that end-users didn’t receive competent guidance in how to operate with these new technologies and therefore resistant to embrace them. Exchanging good policy practices and funding mechanisms across Europe can help us address implementation barriers in the health care sector.
Workshops, sessions and presentations in this theme should include topics related to both successful and failed experiences with implementation practices on 3 levels:
- End-user level
Can end-users be empowered in implementation? How do we measure impact and better quality of life? We encourage end-user organizations to share experiences.
- Company level
Can we develop validated methods for better implementation? Can we harmonize implementation assessments across borders? We encourage companies to share their experiences.
- Public authorities / regulated market / social care level
We encourage public authorities to show their experiences in implementing digital solutions with end-users and care providers, as well as their main barriers in broad installation and adoption.
THEME 2: Age-friendly societies – How do we foster age-friendly environments and communities?
Age-friendly ecosystems offer to people of all ages to actively participate in community activities. They help seniors to stay active outdoors and give them the safety to transport themselves from one place to another. How do we make sure that our designers, decision-makers and environmental planners take age-friendly environments into account in the future?
THEME 3: Data for better lives – How do we become better at mastering all our data?
Data is the new gold, but it brings in new and unprecedented issues related to ethics and privacy. Home sensors, geolocalization, and trackers, for instance, provide us with useful knowledge on how to protect and improve the lives of seniors. Digital solutions are rapidly utilized by older adults themselves to measure health conditions, improve lifestyle and a feeling of security and autonomy. Moreover, it can give care and social professionals and companies new tools to develop new solutions and faster implementation.
However, the collection of data raises questions about ethics: what type of data is collected and why, for example?
THEME 4: Overcoming market barriers in the Silver Economy – Can we create better conditions for SMEs?
Breakthroughs in the AAL sector can depend mainly on companies. We would like to look back at 10 years of AAL and collect experiences – good ones to follow, failures to learn from. And we would like to discuss how Partners, States and the EU better support SMEs in the future based on what we have learned.
THEME 5: Seniors at the workplace – Can digital retain our precious silver workforce?
Older workers are a major asset. Employees are encouraged to retire later in life in some European countries. However, promoting employment opportunities for an ageing workforce requires new thinking at company, national and EU level.
THEME 6: The open category (no thematic area)
This is your chance to be creative!
