On Wednesday, May 09, 2018, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), represented by researchers of the Medical Physics Laboratory, held the first “AD-AUTONOMY” Co-Creation Session with End-Users in the premises of the Thessaloniki Active and Healthy Ageing Living Lab (Thess-AHALL), located at the Medical Physics Lab, AUTH Medical School.
A total number of ten (10) participants (five elderly people, suffering from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or having subjective memory complaints, one of which has the dual role of the family caregiver, three professional caregivers one moderator and one facilitator) attended the co-creation session.
The group participated in a 120-minute session, organized in three thematic areas: i) definition of Autonomy and its main dimensions, ii) daily-routine activities, and finally, iii) Assistive Technologies and ICT tools. The main objective of the co-session was to introduce the main available and recommendable Autonomy approach and its basic dimensions, including activities, benefits, good practices etc., as well as to discuss on how Assistive Technologies and ICT tools can be embedded in real-life context, improving the competences of people with memory problems, their families and professional caregivers.On behalf of the “AD-Autonomy” Project Consortium, we would like to express our special thanks to all attendants for their response to our invitation, their consent and their active participation. Participants’ contribution has been crucial to the continuity and development of the project. AUTH achieved to gather valuable information, thanks to the support and close cooperation of the elderly participants and professional caregivers with the AUTΗ research team.
A second session has been scheduled to provide more details about how technology can enhance the Autonomy of People with Initial/Mild Alzheimer’s Disease (PwA), also improving their Quality of Life (QoL).