SENIOR MAKER MOVEMENT | HELPING THE ELDERLY WITH MAKER TECHNOLOGY
Goals of the project:
- Trigger elderly people to think creatively about improving their day-to-day life
- Connect elderly people with 'maker technology' to enable personal design and innovation
- Relieve pressure on the healthcare system by promoting independent living through personalized solutions
- Integrate research and education into societal impact
- Transfer knowledge to community organizations to ensure sustainable continuation of the initiative
Background & description:
The Dutch healthcare system is under growing pressure, especially in elderly care. ActiZ, the national association for elderly care, saw the potential of maker technology to help seniors live more comfortably and independently.
DesignLab hosted a series of engagement gatherings, introducing elderly participants to maker technology while integrating research and education. The aim was to spark creativity, co-create personal solutions, and foster a sense of empowerment among elderly individuals.
Through collaboration with regional libraries and Tetem, DesignLab helped embed the program into community spaces with a low threshold for participation, ensuring broader reach and long-term continuation. The knowledge and process were successfully transferred to these partners, making it sustainable even after the project closed.
Consortium:
- ActiZ
- University of Twente (DesignLab)
- Tetem
- Regional Libraries
- ANBO
- Rijnbrink
Contact:
