A COMMUNITY ICT PLATFORM TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY-DWELLING ELDERLY PEOPLE: FEASIBILITY AND IMPACT

Older people prefer to stay independent and active in their own environment. Information and communication technology can support them in accomplishing these goals. This is challenging though, as many are not familiar with technology. We introduced a community ICT platform in Heerlen, a city with a highly ageing population, in close collaboration with older persons and active citizens. By means of simple and clear apps, the platform offers a market place for mutual services, community information, access to professional services, and possibilities to set up new community activities. A process evaluation is conducted to study the use of and experiences with the platform. In addition, the platform’s impact on independent functioning, social contacts and involvement in community activities is studied in 150 users over a 12 months period. We will report data over the first 4 months and discuss the role of such platforms in future care and support models.