Supporting older people during the current Covid-19 pandemic and beyond
The AAL Programme’s mission is to help improve quality of life for older people, their families and carers, and in doing so to support the sustainability of our health and care systems.
In times of the Covid-19 pandemic, when many older people are more isolated than ever before, families and care organisations are increasingly relying on technology to stay connected. Technological solutions developed by AAL projects over the past 10 years are now available in the market to support those increasing needs for connectedness, safety and security.
Products making a difference to people's lives
In this special section of the AAL website, we are focusing on some of the available AAL solutions, which are supporting older people. They help them stay better connected with family and carers while feeling more safe and secure at home during the Covid-19 pandemic.
As well as providing you with a snapshot of these businesses, we also talk to the people behind these solutions in a series of special podcast interviews. You will hear how these companies are having to adapt to the restrictions imposed all over Europe during this crisis and how creative they have been in rising up to the challenge.
We also hear why many believe that this crisis is accelerating take-up of technological solutions as people become more aware of how technology can deliver health and care services and keep people connected in our fast-changing world.
Click on the products below to find out more
Learn more about other AAL solutions available for potential users that can potentially alleviate the challenges created by the social distancing and measures of quarantine in different countries.
Information about the growing AAL Market
At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, we began to monitor the value of some of these AAL solutions and the impact the virus has on the ageing population. We are continuing this work, in order to assess the effect of the continuing pandemic – which is significant.
The seven AAL solutions presented above with significant increases in sales during the Covid-19 pandemic are now available in 10 countries – Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Latvia and Russia. All of them have also plans to expand into new countries, such as the UK and Belgium as well as the US, Australia and China.
Most companies report a shift in how their business operates, from a predominantly B2B model to one that sells more and more directly to the end users, mainly older people and their families at home. This is seen as a long-term shift, which will continue to grow, as indicated by everyone we spoke to. There is increased confidence across this wide range of businesses that their relevant markets are set to grow exponentially over the next 10 years.