Medical Delta Living Lab 'Blended rehabilitation'

The number of elderly people with complex care needs who are undergoing rehabilitation is increasing. At the same time, there is a structural shortage of healthcare personnel. This calls for a different approach to elderly rehabilitation: with more room for self-management, preferably in their own living environment, and with the smart use of healthcare professionals – supported by technology.

The most effective way to do this is by integrating technology and innovation into standard rehabilitation programs. This is also known as ‘blended rehabilitation’. The Medical Delta Living Lab 'Blended Rehabilitation' aims to use technology and innovation to assist both the elderly and healthcare professionals within existing care pathways for elderly rehabilitation.

Redesign for rehabilitation care

The fact that this is proving more difficult than thought has several causes, including the complexity of rehabilitation care, the nature of the technology, the older target group, and the shift from care in a healthcare environment to care in one's own living environment. Still, only half of healthcare professionals have any experience with using e-health. The integration of e-health with rehabilitation is even less common. Older adults sometimes lack digital skills, and communication between patients, their loved ones, and healthcare professionals can sometimes be improved.

Blended rehabilitation care requires a redesign of existing care and means that (future) healthcare professionals will need to work differently, in short: innovate smarter and collaborate smarter.

Goals

Medical Delta Living Lab 'Blended Rehabilitation' builds partnerships between knowledge institutions, primary and secondary healthcare organizations, welfare workers, and businesses. It employs practical research focused on personalized support for individuals throughout their entire rehabilitation journey.

The main goal of Medical Delta Living Lab Blended rehabilitation is to develop, implement and evaluate hybrid rehabilitation care for:

• working differently (hybrid) while maintaining or improving job satisfaction of healthcare professionals;
• increased ownership of older rehabilitants with complex recovery problems;
• improved outcomes of rehabilitation on functioning, quality of life and social participation;

This living lab stems from collaboration within Medical Delta Living Lab Geriatric Rehabilitation@Home

Contact

For more information or if you are interested in participating, please contact one of our innovation managers.