EU Frailsafe, digital health solution towards frailty prevention Submitted by Nhu Tram, AGE Platform Europe Frailty is a medical condition which poses great challenges for healthcare professionals. Although, the term “frailty” is very commonly used among medical professionals, the definition of its clinical manifestations and symptoms have concentrated relative consensus only during the last 10 years. Due to the fact that frailty affects various health domains in a slowly progressive course, it is very difficult to detect its symptoms early on. As a consequence, older adults and caregivers are not familiar with the condition and do not recognize the deterioration. Finally, healthcare professionals do not have robust and valid tools to ensure the early detection or methods to effectively manage the condition. The EU-funded project, FrailSafe , developed a digital health solution that combines traditional clinical assessments with technological devices to approach frailty in a holistic approach. It measures numerous and multi-faceted parameters, such as nutritional, cognitive, medical, physical and more, in real-time. The objectives of the solution are to support medical professionals in better assessing frailty but also to empower older people to remain independent and autonomous for as long as possible in their home environment.  Further information can be found on the website . The benefits of using the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitoring system for Holocaust survivors: A pilot project by JFS Edmonton. Submitted by Tatiana Kastner, Gerontological Social Worker, Jewish Family Services There are approximately 160, 000 Holocaust survivors worldwide. Now-elderly, Nazi victims, whose average age is 85 years, often live with serious health conditions and have complex care needs. Some present with Post-traumatic stress disorder caused by genocide/war experience. Also, as the estimated number of people over 80 affected by Dementia is 1 in 6, it is common for the survivors to manifest cognitive limitations. Hence, it can be extremely challenging to manage the care of survivors who have a combination of a physical, cognitive and mental health condition. This is particularly true for those who suffer from Diabetes and have to monitor their blood glucose levels a few times daily. The current government programs in Alberta (Canada) cover only glucose monitoring method that use test strips and lancets. This method requires finger pricks, which is an unpleasant experience, especially for those who have a history of trauma and live with Dementia.  Jewish Family Services – Edmonton’s Holocaust Survivors Support program provides social services to about 110 survivors. It is important for the staff to make sure the survivors age in comfort and dignity, preventing re-traumatization. Therefore, a few months ago a pilot project was launched to provide two of the survivors suffering from both Diabetes and Dementia with an alternative, atraumatic, method of monitoring their glucose level. Thanks to the funding from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, these two low-income clients have been supplied with needle-free glucose monitors and sensors from FreeStyle Libre. The JFS home support workers apply the sensors every two weeks and help the clients to read the results daily. The use of this glucose monitoring system resulted in two major benefits: First, there is no more need for traumatic finger pricks, which were difficult to perform for clients with physical and cognitive limitations; Second, thanks to the data collected by the device, it was possible to more accurately analyze the sugar level patterns and to adjust the Insulin administration. Overall, this significantly improved the quality of life of two Holocaust survivors. Jewish Family Services –Edmonton is looking at the possibility of expanding this project.

WHO/IFA WEBINARS 3 May 2019 9:00 - 10:00 AM EST The IFA and the WHO are pleased to announce the tenth in a series of webinars connecting knowledge, new ideas and innovation around age-friendly environments (AFE). The webinar entitled: 'An Introduction: The Decade of Healthy Ageing' will be presented by Dr. Mary Manandhar (Technical Officer, Department of Ageing and Life Course, WHO). The webinar will focus on how the vision for the Decade of Healthy Ageing was created, the plans to develop it, and the ways various stakeholders can get involved. Register Missed a webinar in the WHO/IFA webinar series? Browse previous webinars . Recordings IFA 2020 Conference- Rights Matter Do you have travel plans for 2020? Engage and present at the IFA’s 15 th Global Conference on Ageing in Niagara Falls, Canada on 1-3 November, 2020. One of the central themes under the title “Rights Matter” is a focus on age-friendly environments. If you would like to submit an abstract related to Age-Friendly Cities and Communities, Technology and Innovation or Urban Planning and Housing, please visit the website  here .

Longitudinal validation of computerized technologies in the detection of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease Submitted by Principal Investigators Dr. Andrew Frank and Dr. Frank Knoefel and Research Coordinator Mrs. Iman Sabra

Can computerized cognitive testing be more effective at predicting the evolution of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia then the standard pencil-and-paper neuropsychological tests? The clinical standardized testing is labor-intensive, requires the presence of trained clinicians, and hence is performed based on clinician availability. Computerized testing has a higher efficiency allowing frequent assessments that can be done off-site, including in a patient’s home. At the same time, computerized testing allows for higher precision in the recording of accuracy and speed of response, with a level of sensitivity not possible in standard administrations Researchers at the Bruyère Research Institute in Ottawa (Ontario), are investigating the sensitivity of two automated computer technologies, the Cognigram TM (CG) platform, and functional electroencephalograph (EEG)/event-related potentials (ERPs) using the investigational NeuroCatch TM Platform (NCP), for the prediction of longitudinal clinical outcomes of MCI subjects over a 3 year period. The preliminary results to date show that CG and NCP can help distinguish cognitive differences between MCI and cognitively normal participants at baseline. The next three years of data collection will hopefully identify early changes in CG scoring and ERPs measurements that are predictive of further decline in the subset of patients with MCI that will convert to dementia.

ICT initiatives in “Healthcare New Frontier” policy of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan Submitted by Hiroyuki Matsumoto (Mr.),Group Leader, Global Strategy Group, Healthcare New Frontier Promotion Headquarters Office, Kanagawa Prefecture Kanagawa Prefecture is promoting a grand policy package called “Healthcare New Frontier” in order to create a brighter future of the super-aged society, and promoting initiatives utilizing ICT as one of the pillars of this policy. The Prefecture is operating applications named “My ME-BYO Record” and “Electronic Maternal and Child Health Handbook” which people can use on their smartphone or PC to manage their lifetime health information. “My ME-BYO Record” makes it possible to record and manage our medication and daily health information as the lifetime log, such information including body weights, blood pressure and the number of daily steps, as well as medical checkup results and vaccination history from infancy recorded in the “Electronic Maternal and Child Health Handbook”. The smartphone app makes it easy and convenient to manage our daily health, as it can record the number of steps by itself and collect medication information automatically by scanning a QR cord provided at the pharmacy. As the recorded health data is backed up to the Prefecture’s server, the users can restore their own important health information if hard copies of such information are lost in disasters. Furthermore, Kanagawa is carrying out health promotion projects utilizing accumulated health data in cooperation with the private sector and academia.

Miles for Memories Safe Return Program Submitted by Sherii Sherban, Leadership Team, Miles for Memories Miles for Memories offers several programs to create greater peace of mind and support for the caregiver to help the person with dementia return home safely with less anxiety and worry.  The Help Home emergency services program is the first step. Next, the personal I.D. bracelet, or nugget, provides support for the person in the earlier stages of dementia to continue to be active. We suggest that the caregiver also wear a bracelet to alert authorities of a care receiver at home in case of injury. The bracelet securely stores your complete medical profile online, which can be accessed by First Responders in five seconds or less. It is made with a 100% surgical grade silicone band to eliminate sensitivities and irritations. It has an aluminum slider and stainless steel clasp to keep it secure. It is fully waterproof to prevent the need to remove it. Finally, our combined G.P.S. and personal I.D. bracelet is for the person in an advanced stage that is still mobile and apt to wander. For more information visit the website here . Contact Miles for Memories directly at (269) 979-1412 or via email.

Serendipity: Age-friendly Features of Existing Technology Submitted by Moon Choi, PhD, Associate Professor ,Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) ,Graduate School of Science and Technology Policy Email Website  As baby boomers enter old age, expectations for growth of the silver market are high. Large investments have been made in the development of devices and systems such as smart home technologies and wearable devices to help older adults age in place and maintain their health. However, there is a gap between development and actual adoption of these new technologies due to the stigma associated with disability, high costs, and the steep learning curve for use. Alternative products already on the market may be more widely used, easily adapted, and helpful for active and healthy aging than those “senior products” targeted to older adults. Age-friendly innovation happens when we find age-friendly features of existing technology, which I call innovation “serendipity.” For example, Uber has changed the way people move; now it offers a feature for users to request a ride for a family member, enabling caregivers to arrange transport for their aging parents. Another example is the Amazon Echo Show that features a screen for easy video chat, a promising tool for distance caregiving. Professionals working with older adults, family caregivers, and older people themselves can participate in age-friendly innovation by discovering this type of serendipity in available popular technology.

LoveSong Seniors Housing and Community Hub Submitted by Ken How, Project Facilitator,LoveSong Seniors Housing The aim of this project is to provide affordable housing to seniors who are at an increased safety risk in their homes but who can still live independently with varying levels and the right mix of support services. Many seniors in Prince Edward County are unable to find decent, safe and affordable housing options that meet their needs as they age.

Some seniors are at an increased safety risk in their homes while others are unable to return home from hospital and turn to long-term care facilities as the only affordable housing option.   Independent living will be encouraged while ensuring that support services are available to those residents requiring assistance. The LoveSong community will promote a sense of belonging, offering purpose and building on the strengths of each individual resident. Residents will be encouraged to contribute and support one another through active participation, whether being a representative on the Board of Management, assisting in meal preparation, gardening, music/entertainment programs, library, or visiting programs. Opportunities to share talents and skills will be celebrated. LoveSong will explore opportunities to implement innovation and sustainable approaches throughout the various stages of project development and implementation using the principles of the 3Rs (Reduce, reuse, recycle)    For more information, please visit the websit e here.

Innovation and technology in an ageing society Submitted by Patrick Harkness, Secretary, Ageing societies, Guidelines for an inclusive workforce As a result of increased life expectancy, ageing or aged societies have emerged in many countries. In addition, developing countries and regions with rapid economic growth will experience increase in their ageing population over the next few decades.

Whilst the increased ageing of society presents a number of challenges, such as increased pressure on health and social services, there are likely to be opportunities that will allow people to effectively manage their long-term care, and live a high quality of life independently from institutionalized care nursing homes and hospitals.   In December of 2017, the International Organization for Standards (ISO) approved the establishment of a Technical Committee (ISO/TC 314 – Ageing societies) with a provisional scope: Standardization in the field of ageing societies . Currently, there are 35 countries registered to participate or observe.Learn more here .   The current active work items include: ·   Ageing Societies - Guidelines for an inclusive workforce ·   Ageing Societies - Framework for dementia-inclusive communities ·   Carer-inclusive and accommodating organizations   It is the intention of ISO/TC314 to consider and expand the work programme depending on the proposals by participating members to ensure standardization in the field of ageing societies continues to advance.

Learning for Pleasure for Seniors Submitted by Jean Walker, President, U3A Online

U3A Online is the world-first virtual University of the Third Age delivering online learning via the Internet.  All that is needed to study online is some basic computing skills. No qualifications are required, and there are no tests or exams. This is simply about learning for pleasure.   U3AOnline offers over 60 courses which are open to all older people anywhere in the world. They are especially suited to seniors who are isolated geographically, or through physical or social circumstances.  Although it was established in Australia , membership is worldwide. U3A Online is entirely run by volunteers and is not for profit.   Courses include: Australian History, Kings and Queens of England, Religions of the World, Antarctica, Saving the Soil, Genealogy Online, Shakespeare’s Histories, Creative Writing, Autobiography and Journalling, Train Your Brain, The History of Mystery, Western Philosophy, and many more.   Members also receive GEMS, a monthly online newsletter with links to interesting and relevant websites. For a $A30 yearly fee, members can access as many courses as they choose.  International payments can be safely made through our PayPal facility.   For a list of courses and more information please visit the website here.

The Brandeis Women’s Studies Research Center Submitted by Dr Ruth Nemzoff, Resident Scholar, Brandeis Women's Studies Research Center

The Brandeis Women’s Studies Research Center, founded in 2001 by Shula Reinharz, “foster[s] a mutually supportive, interdisciplinary community engaged in high quality research, social activism, and the creative arts as they illuminate gender issues throughout the world,” (WSRC 2016/17 mission statement.) The Internet is integral to this community: It allows scholars to work remotely, collaborate and share knowledge with others, and work concurrently with student partners, who add new skills to scholars’ wisdom. The Internet enables those few scholars with chronic illnesses to work into their 80s and 90s, even when they do not have the strength to come into the Center. In fact, one scholar had her symphony performed, and two others wrote books, just weeks before they died!   All scholars use the Internet to support each other and publicize each other’s work, and enables those home-bound by weather or temporary disability to be a member of a community.   Other universities can easily replicate this program, which allows accomplished scholars to continue their work and contribute to new knowledge as they have done all their professional lives. Using the internet, innovative programs such as the WSR allows scholars of all ages to contribute to their communities.

Lonely No More Submitted by Skyler Gopie, Lonely No More Research Project Coordinator, Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health ‘ Lonely No More’ is a peer support program developed by the Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health in Goderich, Ontario. The pilot project utilizes innovative approaches to combat social isolation across rural Perth, Huron, Grey and Bruce counties. Trained volunteers facilitate teleconference calls that senior participants join, building ‘Elder Circles’ of peer support. Volunteers encourage participants to initiate and lead conversations with each other, with participants brainstorming creative topics for discussion each week. This teleconference format of Lonely No More was chosen to eliminate as many barriers to participation as possible (i.e. lack of transportation, mobility issues) which are often already linked to the isolation we are trying to improve. This unique model expands the reach of a single volunteer’s time and effort, whereby seniors seeking this service actively give back to one another simply by participating. Lonely No More volunteers also support participants in accessing other appropriate services through system navigation assistance; by initiating one-on-one engagement calls to explore and confront factors causing the individual’s isolation and by encouraging healthy behaviours to help prevent caregiver burnout. For more information, see the news featur e here or visit the program’s website here.

Stakeholders Network on Smart Healthy Age-Friendly Environments in Europe Submitted by Willeke van Staalduinen, Co-founder, AFEdemy andCaritas Coimbra

Last year, in 2018, the European Commission (DG SANTE) approved the establishment of the Thematic Network 2018 on Smart Healthy Age-Friendly Environments (SHAFE). The main aim of SHAFE is to align the ICT sector with the construction sector and to co-create with users (citizens and care-givers) on SHAFE in order to improve social inclusion and independent living for all. The network, coordinated by NGO social and healthcare provider Cáritas Diocesana de Coimbra from Portugal and by limited company AFEdemy from The Netherlands, delivered a Joint Statement to the European Commission in November 2018. The statement was well achieved by the Commission and focused on the development of a shared vision on smart healthy age-friendly environments, cross-sectoral cooperation, aligned funding and implementation measures, research on prediction and prevention and the empowerment of citizens. The Joint Statement is supported by more than 140 networks and organisations, such as the Covenant on Demographic Change, European Construction and Technology Platform and AGE Platform Europe. Next step for the network is to produce a White Paper in Spring 2020 on the improvement of implementation of SHAFE. Policy makers, insurers, healthcare sector, research and citizens will be approached to identify successful pathways.  To read more and to access the contact details please visit the website here.

Snow Moles in Ottawa use low tech solutions in an innovative project to improve city snow-clearing Submitted by Dianne Breton, Chair,Age-Friendly Pedestrian Safety & Walkability Committee, The Council on Aging of Ottawa, John Woodhouse, and Bonnie Schroeder, Program Director, Age-Friendly Ottawa, The Council on Aging of Ottawa

Ottawa is a winter city. This year snow has been on the ground since mid-November with several freeze-thaw cycles in the last two months. Sidewalks, particularly in residential areas are icy and treacherous for walking. To find out how residents are coping with winter walking, the Age-Friendly Pedestrian Safety & Walkability Committee of The Council on Aging of Ottawa (COA), engaged Ottawa pedestrians (Snow Moles), in auditing their own neighbourhoods. The 2019 Snow Mole Project is collaborating with several community associations and interested city councillors to audit routes to personal destinations such as banks, grocery stores and bus stops. An audit questionnaire was developed, and to make it easily accessible was available online at the COA web site as well as on Survey Monkey for smart phone use. Collected data was sent directly to the COA for analysis by the Age-Friendly Ottawa Program office. Results will be used to advocate for better snow-clearing on residential streets. By the end of March, 250 completed audits have been received from across the city. We hope the Snow Moles will show Ottawa how to be age-friendly in winter.

WayFairer Project – Innovative Solution to Loneliness   Submitted by Denver D'Cruz, General Manager at Inclusion Solutions

The Cambridge WayFairer Project captures the grossly underutilized knowledge and talents amongst local residents, supporting them to repurpose these attributes into the local community, helping them find a sense of social value, purpose and belonging locally. The leverage gained from this project is injecting potency within the community sector not seen before. Much of the work with regards to older adults over the last decade has centred on how to deliver services and programs to “seniors” and then the “elderly” and is usually culturally underpinned as a “cost” or “service” to the community. The WayFairer Project addresses two important community issues directly related to belonging in the local community: Ensuring that the ageing population continue to obtain a sense of purpose and connection to the local community & Addressing the gaps across local community clubs and organisations so they may provide stronger support for the entire community The WayFairer Project works with two primary stakeholders:   Older adults aged 50+ who have their knowledge, experience, skills and interests mapped and captured through an innovative piece of software called ‘Relay Together’, then applied to the identified needs of local community based organisations.   Contact: Denver by email or call 08 9443 7226   Support Documentation can be found at Cambridge, at Inclusion solutions , and at ABC .

The use of humanoid robots in supporting active ageing in older women and men Submitted by Dr Lucie Vidovićová, Office for Population Studies, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University

The innovative interdisciplinary project ”The use of humanoid robots in supporting active ageing in older women and men“ aims to bridge the technological divide between different generations and to support the levels of acceptance of advanced technologies among older adults, as well as to make ICT more age-friendly. During this three-year project, both visitors and clients of the Community Centre for Older Adults will enjoy the company of the humanoid robot Pepper. The robot will be equipped with communication software supporting natural language and will provide information and entertainment as well as support educational activities including cognitive and physical training. In the first part of the project, older adults will actively participate in the design of the robot’s software, taking part in workshops on programming dialogues. We will later test the various functionalities of the robot in interactions with older adults and measure levels of the long-term acceptance and enjoyment of the robotic companion. With the planned range of activities, we aim to show how we can empower both older women and men to overcome some of the recognised difficulties in accessing technologies and re-(introduce) the power of “play” into active ageing.  More details on the project can be found here .

The Good Companions Age-Friendly Innovation Submitted by Monique Doolittle- Roman Executive Director The Good Companions 613-236-0428 ext 2290 or via email

The Good Companions Seniors’ Centre in Ottawa, Ontario Canada developed the innovative Seniors’ Centre Without Walls (SCWW) program to meet the needs of seniors who face barriers when trying to access traditional programs. These barriers include physical, mobility, transportation, systemic, costs, eligibility, social, poverty, mental illness, reduced social skills and wait lists. SCWW is a community outreach program to support vulnerable and isolated seniors. The program is a Virtual Seniors’ Centre. Seniors have access to a free network of programs and services via teleconference. The program provides the opportunity to socialize, obtain health related information and to discuss a variety of topics. Ultimately the program is designed to increase social inclusion, reduce loneliness and improve mental health. The participants are connected to a host of programs and services from the community. They have access to health, safety and educational and entertainment programs. 100% of clients found pleasure in the program and 85% indicate that their quality of life has improved. SCWW’s delivers 450 sessions throughout the year for a total of 2,500 session participants and has expanded to the rural community in partnership with Barry’s Bay and Area Senior Citizens Support Services and ten sites across Ontario .

Technovation Challenge- 'Tiempo en Común'  Submitted by Maria Mulet Milar and the 5Girls team Maria, Leire, Mireia, Elena and Claudi a

We are 5Girls , a team from Castellón, Spain that, as the name suggests, is formed by five girls between 11 and 14 years old. We are participating in a worldwide contest called the 'Technovation Challenge' whose objective is that each team develops an app with a social purpose, and in this way they can get the necessary skills to become tech entrepreneurs. In our case, we are developing an app named Tiempo en Común (Time in Common in English). The main objective of this app is to fight elder people’s loneliness. With this app, we want to bring the technology closer to them, and because of this, we’ll make an understandable layout. At the same time, young people will have the opportunity to spend more time with the elderly people. One of our app’s functionalities, is that the groups already mentioned can gather to make activities together. To achieve all this, we’ve counted on the Castellon’s local government's help. In summary, Tiempo en Común’s objective is that the users suggest activities that they want to do with somebody of a different age. Just like ours, there are many other groups with many good ideas. You can learn more about the challenge organized by the non-profit organization 'Iridescent'   here.

Projecto Teleassistance Submitted by Sofia Vaz, Alfândega da Fé, Portugal  Project Teleassistance is the result of a partnership between the municipality of Alfândega da Fé and the PT Foundation and is aimed at economically deprived seniors and in emergency or isolation. A service that in the first period covered 10 seniors of the county and at the moment comprises 6 seniors.

This project arises in the scope of social responses of inclusion and combat the isolation of seniors in the Municipality of Alfândega da Fé, where the technological solutions of communication supported by the Foundation PT assume a differentiating role by contributing significantly to the autonomy of this population in their homes, as well as , for your safety and well-being. Teleassistance is a telephone support service, guaranteed by the PT Foundation and consists of a telephone with special features to install at the beneficiary's home and a portable emitter device with an emergency button that can be used at the neck or arm. This service enables the beneficiary, in case of obvious need, to contact the support services chosen for this purpose and, in this way, to ensure the activation of the most appropriate means of assistance for his situation. In order to achieve this project, the Municipality has signed a protocol with the PT Foundation, in which it is established that the municipality guarantees 50% of the costs related to the monthly fees of the teleassistance service, the remaining 50% being assumed by the PT Foundation equipment. The project covered in this first period 10 seniors selected according to 5 criteria: Isolation; Social risk; Activities of daily living (ADL); Instrumental activities of daily living (AIVD); Housing and economic condition. Indicators provided by a study carried out by the municipality, which allowed the identification of living conditions and risks associated with the population over 65 years of age in the county.  The Teleassistance service arises in this context and increases the range of social responses aimed at improving the quality of life of the senior population. Examples include the Senior Municipal Card, the Volunteer Bank that provides support at the home to the elderly who live alone or projects such as the "Senior Smile" designed to combat isolation, promote mental health, physical and civic participation of the elderly. A project that earned the City Council the "Municipality of the Year" award 2016, awarded by UM-Cidades, a platform created by the University of Minho.

Connecting Seniors Through Conference Calls Submitted by Heather Drouin, Community & Partnerships Coordinator, Edmonton Southside Primary Care Network Loneliness and social isolation have gained increasing attention as social determinants of health with impacts comparable to other risk factors as we age. The concept of a Seniors’ Centre Without Walls (SCWW) began in 1989’s New York and has since spread, with programs of similar ideology and methods operating all across North America, collaborating often to share learnings and assist newer programs.

The goal is to support the social connectedness of seniors who are homebound or isolated, building an inclusive community atmosphere and ensuring accessibility of social opportunities and health/wellness information to all seniors. To avoid a financial barrier, they operate on the lowest cost and most ubiquitous technology available – a telephone. By gathering seniors from varying geographical ranges on conference calls together, the programs expand the social experiences of seniors in addition to building relationships and finding ways to support their needs. Telephone offerings don’t require transportation, travel time and provide a more equal playing field. This has been meaningful for those who feel that their physical limitations influence how other view and treat them. Evaluation of our program in Edmonton has shown a reduction in feelings of isolation, anxiety/depression, and improvement to feeling valued, self-realization and energy levels. You can learn more about the program here.

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