Eindhoven town housing service approach

07-10-2010

Eindhoven ensures that its elderly people do not feel lonely or unsafe and are able to keep in contact from their home.

Enabling the elderly or people with disabilities to live and participate in their own surroundings for as long as possible. This is the aim of the municipality of Eindhoven with the Housing Service approach. The municipality of Eindhoven and Brainport Health Innovation (BHI) are working together in this project.

Support, costs and fragmentation
As a top technological region, it's a matter of course to also explore the possibilities that technology offers to support independence, self-reliance and participation. The general practice of healthcare innovations with the help of technology is still a long way off. This is due to the lack of support from users who the project is aimed at, the costs and the hugely fragmented range of services on offer. The Living Lab project responds to this. Due to this project, residents of several neighbourhoods are introduced to easily accessible ICT applications that support self-reliance, independence and participation. The project should initially be launched in three to five neighbourhoods. For every area, the specific wishes and needs of the residents will be taken into account.

Due to Living Lab, it is not only the residents who are experiencing the benefits of technology but also the involved suppliers are appreciating how they can present their services better and cheaper; for example, through more cooperation. A joint effort offers more chances to create durable innovation.

Key features
• The approach creates support for telecare and teleservices. For example, by enabling video calling and a "View on   Eindhoven and the neighbourhood", the municipality of Eindhoven ensures that the elderly stay in contact with their  surroundings.
• The approach helps to better regulate supply and demand. The strength of this project lies in listening to the needs and  wishes of the users, which is why the approach in this project differs between neighbourhoods.
• The collaboration between partners creates opportunities to innovate, produce synergy and reduce costs. Under the colours of BHI, the project group consists of ZuidZorg, Woonbedrijf, Ons Net Eindhoven, Helpt Elkander Nuenen, Close the Gap, Tunstall, TopSupport and Van Egdom Security. These partners jointly manage the services on offer in response to the preferences of users.
• The project's aim is to develop. An important part of the budget is set aside to demonstrate services and innovations in the Living Lab based on preferences, needs and research.