Project lead: Local authorities

Older people’s involvement: Older people were involved in the age-friendly practice at multiple or all stages

Details on older people’s involvement: Older people and their relatives were project members helping project management to choose the right improvements. They opened their homes and shared their knowledge in what needs does an older tenant have? The housing companies had chosen areas with a high percentage of old tenants where larger renovations were coming up so the old tenants had a great opportunity to raise their voice and also experience the improvements in their daily lives. Here are some quotes: “It’s great that people are given the opportunity to age in place, and with accessibility and a sense of community I think it’s possible.” Trygve Stokke, tenant of Poseidon“It’s like a whole new world opening up”, Astrid Åsblom, live in the city centre who took part of the iPad course. “This waste bin is simply the best.” Signe Dahlman, tenant of Poseidon about one of the improvements in her area. “They have thought about this and made it comfortable. I want a bathroom like this.” Ove Linderoth, tenant of Bostadsbolaget about the new bathroom that works for all ages.

Has the impact of this age-friendly practice been analysed: Yes

Was the impact positive or negative:
Positive

Please share with us what you found in detail:
In the economic analysis, made by PWC, costs of measures have been put against expected benefits in terms of cost reductions. The reductions have been identified based on workshops, questionnaires, interviews, statistics, previous studies and research. There are many winners. 85% goes to the municipality in decreased need = less cost to the municipality within the municipality: home help/home care: avoid grocery shopping or washing of clothes when there are door openersold people can shower themselves, reduced fall risk in bathroom when there is no threshold, loss of QALYs. Inaccessible bathrooms stigmatize the elderlythe elderly manage their social contacts themselves, loneliness is depleting.decreased need for help from relatives which eases their situationshort-term and assisted living – old people do not need assistance or postponing assistance, possibly shorter time ready for dischargedecreased demand for Special transport services (takes the “flex line” on their own) old people can walk without assistance to the carReal Estate fewer housing adaptations15% goes to the property owners: fewer relocations and housing adaptations, happy tenants, less hospital care (inpatientcare, primary care), easier situation for carers and even the citizen is a winner in terms that tax revenue is used more efficiently, but also of course the individual, family and police (GPS alarm) are winners.

Feedback:
Yes, Project members really enjoyed being a part of the Project. Their ideas were taken into account and they could see the result. An inquiry in one of the neighbourhoods showed an increase in satisfaction with the housing Company.

Expansion plans:
Our next step is developing an action plan within Age-friendly Cities and summing up all the good work done by the municipality.

Reflections:
The Project took Place in 2011-2012 and there were not so good technology aids at that time. If we would do it again, for example the GPS alarms have really developed. Here is a quote from our Project Manager for the bathrooms:””It ‘s been great fun to work with older people , care staff and accessibility experts. We have learned a lot from each other. It is possible to build a smart bathroom that works for older people , although the bathrooms are small . But we need functional design and development of new products. «MARCUS Götberg, PROJECT MANAGER, HOUSING COMPANY Bostadsbolaget

Challenges:
We were 13 orgaizations and 100 people involved so there were sometimes different views in how to best deal with problems. Beforehand we had written agreements on what was to be done, this was a great help. What was really fun was that we worked closely together and created something new. To really be able to work together we invested a lot in Communications like for instance inspiration Days when we met and looked at each others improvements, Project managers wrote blogs, we shared ideas and questions via Facebook – a Group calld Görbra för äldre which at the time had 100 members and today we reach 700 (the Power of social media). Our researcher also helped us to reflect during the process. She was invited this year to the government to talk about the Project!PS. We have a lot of material though it is heavier than 5 MB due to all the images showing the improvements. Please e-mail me if you are interested.