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Projects

AKTIVE: Advancing Knowledge of Telecare for Independence and Vitality in later life

Category: Biodemography and Health

Who's involved?

Funding: TSB and ESRC

This project, funded by the Technology Strategy Board and ESRC through the Assisted Living Innovation Platform, was in collaboration with the Centre for International Research on Care, Labour and Equalities (CIRCLE, formerly University of Leeds now University of Sheffield), Tunstall Healthcare (UK) Ltd and Inventya Solutions Ltd from June 2011 – May 2014. The project investigated the uptake of assisted living technologies (ALTs) by older people diagnosed with dementia or falls and explored the potential of ALTs to achieve positive outcomes.

The partners also worked with consortium members across ten other organisations comprising of medical experts; experts on design, risk, disability and ergonomics; telecare commissioners in two local authorities; and a range of agencies representing and supporting older people, carers and care workers. The project produced a unique knowledge base for UK ALT manufacturers offering comparative advantage re foreign competitors in a global growth market.

The study involved:

  • extensive mapping of state-of-the-art knowledge on the topic;
  • analysis of telecare monitoring data in two local authorities;
  • the development and use of a new methodology – ‘everyday life analysis’- to explore how telecare installations impact on older people and their care networks in a sample of households, which will be studied over the course of a year;
  • expert investigation and analysis of prospective risk for patients with falls and dementia diagnoses;
  • and extensive dissemination and development activity to refine telecare products to meet client needs, identify effective routes to market for telecare solutions, and engage with bodies which support and advise carers and care workers working with older people in the identified groups. 

The project website is available here: www.aktive.org.uk

Presentations:

  • Hamblin, K. (2014). Empirical Example of Efforts to Embed Social Innovation Using Digital Technology in Home Environments: Findings from the AKTIVE Telecare Project, GTC Care Initiative ‘Conversation on Care’: The Role of Online & Technical Innovation in Social Care, 13th November 2014, University of Oxford.
  • Buckle, P.; Fishpool, A.; Hamblin, K.; and Howard, M. (2014), Telecare, risk and everyday life: key findings from the AKTIVE project, Telecare Services Association International Telecare & Telehealth Conference, 17-18 November 2014, Newport.
  • Hamblin, K. (2014). Qualitative research on older people's use of telecare: Methodology and findings from the AKTIVE project, ScHARR Seminar Series, University of Sheffield, 17th June 2014.
  • Fry, G. and Hamblin, K. (2014). Everyday Life Analysis: A New, Multimethod, Longitudinal Approach to Capturing Daily Lives, British Sociological Association Annual Conference, 23-25th April 2014, University of Leeds.
  • Hamblin, K. (2014). Findings from the Everyday Life Analysis of telecare and older peoples’ lives, Barriers to Assistive Technology Uptake Workshop, 17th April 2014, Oxfordshire County Council.
  • Hamblin, K. (2014). Risk, Freedom, Relationships and Ageing in Place: the role of telecare, Technology, Care and Ageing: Enhancing Independence Conference, 8-9th April 2014, University of Leeds.
  • Hamblin, K. (2014). Telecare and its Relationship with Identity, Stigma, Agency and Choice, Technology, Care and Ageing: Enhancing Independence Conference, 8-9th April 2014, University of Leeds.
  • Roulstone, A.; Hamblin, K.; Yeandle, S.; and Buckle , P. (2013). Realising Telecare Potential Policy and Evidence, British Society of Gerontology: Global Ageing: Implications for Individuals and Societies, 11th -13th September 2013, University of Oxford.
  • Fry, G. and Hamblin, K. (2013). The AKTIVE project: how telecare can improve the lives of older people prone to falls or who suffer memory problems, 42nd Annual Conference of the British Society of Gerontology: Global Ageing: Implications for Individuals and Societies, 11th - 13th September 2013, University of Oxford.
  • Bianchera, E. and Hamblin, K. (2013). Telecare Use in Everyday Life: Benefits & Challenges- Early findings from the AKTIVE project, European Sociological Association Conference, 29th September 2013, Turin.
  • Koivunen, E-R. and Hamblin, K. (2013). Telecare and caring networks, CIRCLE and Care-Connect Research seminar series 2013: Caring in the family, 22nd May 2013, University of Leeds.
  • Hamblin, K. (2012). Introducing the AKTIVE Project, Telemedicine in Action Seminar Day, Green Templeton College, 29th November 2012, University of Oxford.

Publications & outputs

2014
2013
2012
Research Strands