Ageing Community

As more businesses develop new products to meet the needs of an ageing society, Coventry University has devised a package to help them be successful i-Deal solution.

The market for Assistive Technology has become more competitive as our nation ages. The numbers of people aged 65 and over increased by 1.7 million between 1984 and 2009, and the fastest population increase has been by those aged 85 and over.

The Department of Health states that by 2030, incidences of chronic disease in the over 65s will more than double. But as our health deteriorates, many of us are reluctant to resort to care homes or to live with relatives – statistics show 87% of us want to stay in our own homes – leaving a gap for technology that can assist us to live independently for longer.

“Assistive Technology companies are waking up to the increasing importance of the consumer in the market place,” said Sharon Simkiss, Project Manager at the University’s Health Design & Technology Institute (HDTI). “Consumers are looking for products which not only meet their needs, but which also look good and are easy to use.”

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) often do not test their new product ideas with potential users due to cost but it's a crucial step that could prevent failure later on. But a new funded project is helping smaller enterprises to develop their ideas.

The Intelligent Design Engine for Assisted Living Technology (i-DEAL) project is a crossfaculty project involving HDTI, the Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, the School of Art & Design, three West Midlands SMEs and project lead Alvolution, the Assisted Living Division of MedilinkWM.