The workshop “Independent Living, Housing, Domotics” gathered 30 representatives from local authorities across Europe on 30-31 March. The workshop, which was organised in line with the AFE Innovnet project, looked at domotics and local housing solutions that support older people to retain their independence in their own homes for as long as possible.

Defining Domotics

Domotics aims to apply automation techniques for the comfort and security of people at home: light and climate control, control of doors and window shutters, security and surveillance systems, etc. This is controlled by the human interface; therefore, ergonomics is of importance.

City of Udine: housing solutions for independent living

The organiser of the workshop, the city of Udine, has committed politically to measures for healthy and active ageing by joining the World Health Organisation’s Healthy Cities Network and through its participation in European Projects such as AFE INNOVENT and URBACT. In addition, in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, public and private partners are cooperating to develop solutions that are tested by service users, for example telehealth solutions and intergenerational co-housing projects.

These projects include:

• The RE-Freedom project on home care services: two test apartments in Udine (one for people who are visually impaired and one for physical impairments) which were developed with the input from service users. The aim was to develop a domotic platform where all devices in the flat are interoperable and can be easily controlled by the inhabitant. Moreover, the project aims to have interoperability between several flats in order to channel information to health and social care providers.
• The Living for all kitchen project which is targeted at people with mild cognitive impairments. The kitchen was developed on the basis of service users’ input and is also seen as opportunity for further commercial development.

Friuli Venezia Region: ICT supported integration

Moreover, the Friuli Venezia region participates in a range of European projects that concentrate on housing, ICT and community development, such as:

• The Casa project about ambient assistive living.
• The Smart care project to encourage ICT supported integration of health and social care.
• The HELPS project which looks at housing and local partnerships for older people and implements pilot actions for housing or home care for older people in different countries.

Additional Challenges

Inarguably, the biggest problem in this area remains to be the isolation of older people. Due to this, alongside these projects, the City of Udine also promotes the promotion of physical exercise alongside the development of technology participation measures.

Further examples that promote the independence of older people and the development of age-friendly environments can be found here.