Older adults are being particularly affected by the current Coronavirus outbreak in Europe. To protect lives, public authorities urge older adults to stay at home and be particularly vigilant of any contact with other people. This confinement and linked social isolation create a new set of challenges for the health and well-being of our older population.
Part of the AAL Programme’s mission is to stimulate innovation for supporting older people living safely and securely at home while staying socially connected. The AAL Programme has supported numerous digital solutions, which are available in the market today and which can both help older people to stay connected, as well as support families and carers.
The current crisis highlights the health challenges of an ageing society and the importance of preventative as well as active ageing measures. The AAL solutions have been developed as part of a pan European effort. Collaboration at regional, national and European level will be crucial in this decade to come up with sustainable solutions for dealing with such health crisis affecting in particular the older population.