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Innovation Pathways for Age-Friendly Homes in Europe
Frans Sengers1, Alexander Peine2
1Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, de Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|February 2, 2021
Summary
Innovative socio-technical experiments are enhancing age-friendly homes across Europe. Most innovations focus on social and conceptual changes, not just technology, offering new housing and community models for aging in place.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Social Sciences
- Innovation Studies
- Housing and Urban Planning
Background:
- Growing need for age-friendly housing solutions in Europe.
- Emergence of socio-technical experiments to address life-course resilience in homes.
- Existing research often focuses on technological solutions, overlooking social and conceptual innovations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of 53 socio-technical experiments in age-friendly homes across Europe.
- To analyze the diversity and types of innovations being tested.
- To identify distinct innovation pathways for future developments.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and categorization of 53 ongoing socio-technical experiments.
- Analysis of experiments conducted in the Netherlands, France, Ireland, and Poland.
- Qualitative assessment of the nature of innovations (material, technical, social, conceptual).
Main Results:
- Significant variation exists between countries and types of experiments.
- Innovations are predominantly social or conceptual, focusing on organizational modes, practices, and housing concepts.
- Seven distinct innovation pathways were identified: Showcasing Technology, Innovation Ecosystem, Sheltered Elite, Specific Community, Conscious Retrofitting, Home Sharing, and Retrovation Challenge.
Conclusions:
- The future of age-friendly homes relies heavily on social and conceptual innovations, not solely technological advancements.
- Understanding these diverse innovation pathways is crucial for directing future developments in housing for older adults.
- Policy and practice should support a broader range of socio-technical experiments to foster life-course resilience.
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