Medical Delta Program 'Assistive technology at home'

Technology can play an important supporting role in allowing people to live independently at home for longer. It can reduce the burden on care services and improve the quality of life for people with health problems and functional limitations. Naturally, this is by no means a given: technology can also become an additional burden. Promising innovations often end up in a drawer. The potential of assistive technology is still not fully utilized.

It is a question of how assistive technology can be optimally used to support people with health problems and/or functional limitations in their daily lives and to enable them to live independently in their own environment for as long as possible. The Medical Delta Program 'Assistive technology at home' aims to answer this question.

Develop, evaluate, implement

For this goal, the program sets up three research lines: 

A development line, in which the problems and challenges faced by end-users and care professionals drive the development of innovations. It is demand-driven, focusing on two central themes: methods to ensure that innovations align optimally with the daily lives of end-users, and methods for the sustainable development, production, and deployment of assistive technology.

An evaluation line, which assesses the usability, (cost)effectiveness, added value, and sustainability of new and existing technology. Methodologies for evaluation research are developed, and evaluation research is conducted.

An implementation line, focusing on the implementation and integration of assistive technology into the daily practice of care and welfare, as well as into the (consumer) market, insurance packages, and (local) government policies.

Longer independent and healthy

The Medical Delta Program 'Assistive technology at home' establishes a strong regional network of researchers, care organizations, end-users, governments, financiers, and technology companies. Universities, universities of applied sciences, and vocational schools collaborate within it. The Medical Delta Program 'Assistive technology at home' is closely connected to the eponymous Medical Delta Living Lab. Experiences from the living lab and findings from the research program are shared and mutually reinforce each other. 

The program aims to ultimately result in practically applicable and scientifically grounded knowledge and insights to ensure that assistive technology meets the needs of care professionals and end-users, enabling them to remain independent and healthy for longer.

Goals

The Medical Delta Program 'Assistive technology at home':

• forms a strong, productive, and sustainably collaborating network of researchers;
• establishes connections with care providers, municipalities, and other stakeholders by initiating joint research projects and securing funding;
• trains researchers so that they can expand and sustain the program in the long term;
• acquires scientific insights and publishes these research results.

Contact

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