That disability implies the need for practical help in the usual activities of daily living (ADL) and

instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), is obvious but also very partial. The loss of physical

abilities has many psychological implications as it forces the individual to face a condition of

dependency that creates discomfort and limits the occasions of socialization and the normal

interactions with other individuals. All along and not by chance, the preferred care solution of the

elderly is informal caregiving provided by a relative: a care solution that answers the practical needs

of the individuals by minimizing discomfort through the warmth of the human contact.

In this setting, a first challenge for European countries is to help building up a LTC system that, by

supplying versatile solutions to the needs of disabled elderly, will respect their psychological

requirements and their preferences, also considering that the informal intra-household help is likely

to shrink in the future for cultural and economic reasons (Coda Moscarola, Fornero and Rossi,

2011; Coda Moscarola, 2007 and 2010). The respect of the person as a whole is indeed presumably

the right way to avoid a rapid deterioration of his mental and physical conditions with a consequent

need of intensifying the care to be provided.

We are convinced that, although comprehensive and good data base (such as SHARE) have been

provided in the past years, the information about the real needs and preferences of disabled people

is insufficient and that many of the solutions currently proposed in several European countries do

not approach the first-best option for the individuals in need and for the possible providers of it,

such as Governments, private insurance companies, start-ups. The project that we submit puts the

mapping of LTC preferences of elderly individuals and good ways to satisfy them at the centre of

our investigations.

All this cannot, of course, disregard financial constraints. A second challenge is indeed represented

by the financing method of LTC services. Notwithstanding its relevance, paradoxically, the LTC

risk is one of the least insured (Brown and Finkelstein, 2009). Indeed, many of the European

welfare states do not actually provide sufficient coverage for this risk (Leichsenring, K., Billings, J.

and H. Nies, 2013), and, at the same time, private insurance is not widespread (Cutler et al., 2008).

In this project we will explore the reserve prices of individuals for the provision of the services they

want, as well as try to figure out which public/private insurance scheme could meet their needs.

This is a key question, especially in times of weak growth or economic recession, when providing

for unexpected expenditures becomes difficult both for the public sector and for individuals. Our

analysis will try to fully account for the specificities of the LTC insurance market .

Our approach goes beyond the simple proposal of classical insurance programs or public policy

interventions, already widely discussed in the literature and in the public debate. Rather, it embraces

a wider perspective by looking at original best-fitting and affordable solutions to improve the life of

the elderly and of their close relatives. We also believe that these solutions cannot disregard ICT

developments, which strongly influence the quality of life of disabled elderly, by making them less

dependent from human help and by providing cost-efficient solutions. This is the reason why the

research team should include experts in the fields of economics (including behavioural economics),

finance, actuarial science, engineering, as well as managers with an experience in LTC services

provisions.

This also explains the title of our research proposal. The multidisciplinary approach proposed in this

project will address the key issues rotating around the LTC topic from an innovative perspective and

will propose original solutions that will be implemented and tested in their effectiveness.

Silver Navigation Policy is prototyping different ways into the Future of the aging Europe. The proposal is about the Reparadigming of perspectives on Seniors, into Silver Potentials, in a Nation, a Region or a City, as well as enterprise. Aging is that only to be seen as a problem or rather as a a potential?

If earlier referenced slide from NASA study,  is correct, (not possible to attache) it is indicating that the age groups with highest entrepreneurial potential are youngsters as well as seniors? It is a U-curzve! The problem age group, i.e at the bottom of the curve,  is the one around 40 ?   Consequently then we need to reparadigme the  conventional  labor market. This calls for many navigational prototyping  initiatives, as well as recruting of Impact Navigators of different age, to co create Societal Innovation for realeasing the Silver Potential..

If wisdom is emerging over time...where do Europe has its wisdom potential?

In Japan, by Future Center Alliance Japan,  there is already in progress the development of so called Wise Place space.  How does this impact the urban planning and city design? Instead of officde blocks, shoppings centers, car park spaces, day care centers for kids there might be a need for spaces of Silver Age  Campus to culitvate the new networking and value creating?

Encouraging dialogue and social gathering among silver surfers in Europe, through the enhancement of their leisure: this is the idea behind our initiative, a new European web portal developed according to tastes and needs of population aged over 50.

The project is closely based on Intrage.it, the first Italian web portal fully dedicated to the elderly which in the year 2000 in a stage still lacking in proposals for the target, launched in Italy the challenge of a diverse project built on quality information and services.

Defeating the preconceptions of technological age-related marginalization by implementing an age-friendly virtual space, Intrage.it brought older generations on the world wide web by making the ease of use one of its hallmarks; by constantly offering new insights and opportunities of dialogue and aggregation, it has also brought together many of the italian communities abroad who have warmly welcomed the initiative.

In 16 years, Intrage.it has been drawing up and independently publishing 100,000 pages with news, follow-ups, special, articles and interviews, and since our start we have had over 100 million visitors and over 400 million page views. (http://www.intrage.it/chi-siamo)

Leisure is “travel”: that’s why our initiative has also chosen to consider, among different topics that will be developed by the web portal, the opportunity to promote tourism for the elderly through specific sections.

The european web portal will cover a network of different tourist destinations, offering ad hoc services for the elderly who will be able to choose from many travel alternatives, thanks to different routes based on various cues as artistic, natural or cultural points of interests and places, spas or minor but interesting tourist destinations.

In support of our project, we will provide supplementary services resulting from our experience in research and experimentation fields, as appropriate for this initiative.

The careful enhancement of the European cultural heritage will act as a stimulus, as an input to new travel and life experiences. The growth of tourism for the elderly will not be, however, only an opportunity for personal growth but, above all, a concrete boost to the entire tourism industry. The project will promote the development of new or improved services, with the aim of creating new business opportunities for Silver Economy and senior tourism.

Leisure is “personal care”: take care of ourselves as we age should not be seen only as a personal duty but also as a pleasure; that's why we need to promote healthy lifestyles and good habits to follow through targeted content. But health is not only synonymous with medicalization: spas are in fact not only sites dedicated to health but also meeting places where people can socialize, highly appreciated by older people because of ability of spas, abundantly present in Europe, to combine the concept of well-being to leisure.

Leisure is “knowledge”: the project, conceived from a European perspetctive, will present multilingual content to involve most of our target. With articles, focus and follow-ups about different topics of interest, visitors will be able to develop and deepen their language skills in a totally user friendly environment. The presence of other users from all over Europe, will also be an opportunity for knowledge transfer to other visitors of the European web portal.

Leisure is “aggregation”: the basis of our initiative is the importance of sharing ideas and experiences by creating opportunities for discussion. For this reason the social side of our new European portal becomes imperative: creating a diverse community, eager to learn and ready to take the first step towards new points of view, can decrease the virtual distance between visitors and broaden the knowledge of uses and traditions of the European community.

Leisure is “social”: European web portal visitors will not only enjoy contents but will actively collaborate to realise them, sharing their experiences and expressing their ideas. They will suggest itineraries or local customs, help or get help in understanding foreign languages ​​or, as has happened over the years with Intrage.it, be part of an active and highly aggregating community.

We need to create a good environment for elder people so that they can still do their activities and still stimulate their abilities and creativeness. They need more time for recreation, indeed but they still need stimulus for the brain and socialization: travel, computering, learning. But in my opinion the most important isto focuson Geriatric medicine to prevent severe degradation: fitness, good nutrients for the brain, prevention in rheuma ans dementia..And we have to help people be on their "own feet" as much as possible.

The idea would be to develop social housing adapted to elderly people with adequate equipment, services and ICT solutions. Because adapting’s one house (shower, larger door, lights, …) remains expensive, the idea could be to develop programmes of social housing targeting the elderly, such as small residences with adapted solutions for the elderly and located next to services and shops to allow them to stay longer independent at home.

The project of the “Seniors Residences” set up by the Lower Rhine Council in France is based on this analysis. It targets the elderly between 65 and 80 who are still able to live at home. Three main criteria are important for the development of an adequate rental offer: the flat/house has to be adapted to the situation of elderly people (but not medicalised); it has to be well located next to shops, meeting places and other services; and it has to be affordable.

It would be good to experiment and develop technologies and services in order to increase the capacity of the elderly to live longer at home. These technologies and services would as well prevent them from loss of autonomy and reduce impacts of first stage of dependency.

The Moselle Council in France has launched a project call “Innovative and Solidarity in housing” (Habitat innovant et solidaire) based on 2 main pillars:

• Concrete testing with social landlords and local enterprises of building smart residences with services, including IT solutions
• Digital services platform to find sustainable solutions for the elderly (technologies for wellbeing and automation / technologies for prevention / technologies for information and communication / technologies for telemedicine)

The project is aimed at creating a kindly ecosystem which supports access and diffusion of adapted and personalized goods and services. But human people are full considered as part of the ecosystem as well, because social relations can strongly contribute to support weakness situations and loss of autonomy at home. The adaptation of social dwellings is a step toward affordable and safe housing that could result in better ageing, less accident and more social inclusion.

Besides the housing adaptation, to allow elderly people staying at home as long as possible, it is necessary to ensure an efficient home care coordination and facilitate communication between the different stakeholders (doctors, nurses, home help services…).

The integration of home care services is an innovative approach, allowing local actors from health, social and medico-social sectors to adopt common procedures and tools, sharing information to ensure harmonized, appropriate and suitable solutions. It is based on a secured information exchange system, accessible to all partners. The system relies on the dialogue between the main care system funders, the integration of desks offices and harmonization tools and methods (using case management and multidimensional assessment).

Since 2009, the Upper Rhine Council is developing and experencing a new organizational scheme for professionals taking care of dependent elderly people at home, named MAIA. This integrated service desk relies on a user centred system.

Besides, since 2016 the “Département” is also experiencing a shared ICT coordination and information system (SICODOM) in the southern part of the Département (both on urban and rural areas), in close cooperation with the Regional Health Agency. It concerns elderly dependent people living at home and needing at least 2 home care providers (besides usual doctor and pharmacist). 15 structures are testing this system since January 2016. Through better coordination of the various home service stakeholders it helps improving quality of care, while optimizing the use of resources and allowing elderly people to stay at home in the best conditions.

This idea is part of the UNCAP project. UNCAP (“Ubiquitous iNteroperable Care for Ageing People “) is an open, scalable and privacy-savvy ICT infrastructure designed to help ageing people live independently while maintaining and improving their lifestyle. The final solution will consist of real products that will be made available on the market. The project is co-financed by the EU through the Horizon 2020 programme, and it involves 23 partners (including several pilot user partners) from 9 European countries (IT, UK, SI, RO, EL, DE, SE, ES, MK) with a start-up (FR) who will bring the results of the project to the market. In particular to improve the quality of life and health outcomes of older people increasing and enhanced the self-care and at the same time increase adherence and safety of elderly people living in private homes or in ad-hoc structures. The solutions implemented in UNCAP project will be tested in a range of different conditions with real users in nursing homes.

Part of this project is the creation and definition of an observation & measurements (O&M) markup language called AHA (Active Healty Ageing) into OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium). OGC is an international not for profit organization committed to making quality open standards for the global geospatial community.

My contribution is to create the environment and atmosphere in a new settled Senior House as the joyfull and well being place. People in retired still being active and in social interaction with the others.Working in a part-time, taking care about their life style and healthy, gardening, making products, mentoring students, visiting kindergardens, taking volunteering activities, sports, performing a theatre etc.etc. up to their vital willigness to be involved in their Senior House as well community/society around them. It does not meant just to live but also show the results of their activities and enjoy the Senior House prosperity.The older people need to feel "not to be alone" and be interactive. Smile, joyfull mood with the fruitfull life. On the practical level these seniors launch and develop the interactive database on the local level. I can imagine their influence to cross borders to the other Senior Houses.     

Nowadays, techology is evolving quicker than elderly can learn or even understand. The market is plenty of apps aimed at elderly, but there isn't a big demand yet. One of the first problems I see for that is that elderly don't know about those apps, so my proposal 1) would be to find better ways to make them aware about these solutions that make them like better. The following problem is the User eXperience, 2) the interaction between elderly and these apps should be via voice/natural language, since it is the most familiar way for them to express what they need. Also more "tangible" interfaces are a good idea for that purpose, instead of using tactile screens. The third problem I see is the involvement of elderly people in society. In some countries they are not so valued as they should, but their experience of years could help a lot of working age people. 4) create programs where elderly people can teach others with their experience. And the last one, at least in Spain, is that is difficult to get a holistic coverage unless you pay for it. Apart from health status of elderly basic things such as nutrition, activity, sleep, are must to take care about. It is 5) vertical services must be interconnected between them in order to take advantage of each other, being aware of the global status of the elder.

Taking into account these points when creating any app/solution/wearable... for elderly people will have more chances to success.