TEST BOXES - Assistive Devices at Home
About this good practice
The "Test Boxes" is an innovative project, offering a library of technical equipment and aids that seniors can borrow and test in their homes for a month. This approach helps them familiarize with new technologies and evaluate their practical benefits.
Objectives:
• Inform and familiarize seniors with innovative assistive technologies;
• Allow free one-month testing to evaluate daily effectiveness.
• Provide guidance on solutions, financial aid, and intermediary actors.
The box includes 20 solutions (mobility aids such as lift-assist cushions, stabilizing tips for walking canes, motion-sensor lights or related to nutrition such as automatic can openers, bottle openers, etc.), a detailed catalog of solution functionalities, a precise set of specifications, a communication kit, and satisfaction questionnaire.
This initiative is deployed in collaboration with a network of field partners directly connected to the public, including home care services, independent living residences, municipal social centers, caregiver support platforms, and autonomy houses. After the test period, if the senior is satisfied, they can then decide to acquire the aid in question.
The project is implemented in two ways to adapt to varying levels of autonomy among seniors:
1. Fixed Locations: Seniors can borrow the equipment and return them at the end of the test month
2. Mobile Health Teams: Teams visit senior' homes to present the test box, providing a more personalized and accessible approach.
Resources needed
The project requires a combination of financial resources for purchasing technical aids and human resources for project management, coordination, and on-site support. Collaboration with local health and social care providers, including senior residences was essential for successful implementation.
Evidence of success
Positive feedback showed the project’s success. In 2023, 43 seniors tested solutions through the test box scheme:
- 32 seniors tried solutions at home for a month; five devices were purchased.
- Group workshops led to eleven more purchases.
In total, 16 seniors were equipped with innovative solutions during the experiment. In 2024, the project expanded to offer more solutions and spread the scheme to new areas with additional partners.
Potential for learning or transfer
The test box initiative offers valuable insights for other regions aiming to support their aging populations. The key success factors include active involvement of end-users, robust partnerships with local health and social care providers, and the flexibility to adapt solutions to individual needs. Potential challenges in transfer include adapting the model to different regional contexts and ensuring sustained funding and support.
Further information
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