It is a pressing challenge for the near and far future to provide sufficient and suitable housing and care for senior citizens. Importantly, the current Dutch government plans for seniors to live as long and as autonomously as possible in their own homes. The digital transformation of care and homes is seen as an important means to reach these objectives. These plans also apply to other vulnerable groups, such as people with (intellectual) disabilities.
However, if not implemented in the right way, digitalization could amplify vulnerabilities. Therefore, the team will study how the digital transformation can truly support people, instead of harming them. The research project, with the name MOVUS, will focus not only on the problem analysis but also on developing solutions with the involved parties.
Professor Elco van Burg explains: "Care for older persons is under immense pressure due to the ageing population, in combination with a staff shortage. The government and healthcare organisations expect a lot from digitalisation, but to use digitalization productively, a different way of working is needed. Health care organisations are struggling with this. We explore what that other way of working could look like. And we will study under which conditions care can be provided digitally.”
Associate professor Christine Moser adds: “During the next two years, we study how the digital transformation changes work processes in care for older persons. We will explore whether using digital tools makes older persons more vulnerable or more resilient. Based on this research, we will develop solutions that we will implement with our partners."
The researchers work together with many partners, such as housing corporations, The Public Health Service (GGD), care organisations and universities of applied sciences. Van Burg: "The cooperation with all these partners makes it possible to bring all relevant knowledge and insights together and apply findings directly in practice and also incorporate them in the training of health care professionals.”
About the research grant
The research grant is part of the Nationale Wetenschapsagenda, specifically the programme “Kwetsbaarheid en weerbaarheid in een online samenleving (Vulnerability and resilience in an online society)”.
The researchers form a consortium with the following partners: Amsterdam UMC, Empyreal, ETH Zürich, GGD Amsterdam, Hanzehogeschool Groningen Het Groene Brein, Hogeschool Saxion, Hogeschool Arnhem Nijmegen, Sigra, TU Eindhoven, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Woonzorg NL, Zorgstichting ’t Heem, Vitalis, Thebe and Zuidoostzorg.