AZOB

Project description

In 2013, six Care Living Labs were launched to facilitate new care, assistance processes and products in the care for older people to live independently at home for as long as they want. The six care living labs created an experimentation space for innovations in the care of older people with the aim of testing, together with the end user, new products, services or processes that can improve the care and support of older people living at home. The “Actieve Zorgzame Buurt (AZOB)” living lab is one of the six living labs. This partnership between Antwerp and Brussels partners develops a neighbourhood-oriented model of care organisation in a metropolitan context. The emphasis is on strengthening the self-reliance, awareness and involvement of vulnerable older people in the interaction between living, welfare and care.    

It was decided to set up an annual qualitative research evaluation (2014–2015–2106) via focus groups. The multi-stakeholder perspective was important when designing the research design. After all, in the search for answers to the many questions in the development of an Active Care Neighbourhood, it was essential to capture the experiences and needs of the different stakeholders. In each neighbourhood, focus groups were conducted with older people, informal carers, volunteers and professionals. 

Funding by living labs Care Innovation (Flemish Minister of Innovation Ingrid Lieten).

Keywords

Caring Communities - housing - volunteering

Partners 

• Kenniscentrum WWZ
• Zorgbedrijf Antwerpen

Want to know more?

• De Donder, L., Smetcoren, A.-S., Dury, S., Van Regenmortel, S., Lambotte, D., Duppen, D. …, Brosens, D., De Witte, N., & Verté, D. (2017). Zorginnovatie in Vlaamse proeftuinen: Onderzoek naar Actief Zorgzame Buurten in Brussel en Antwerpen. Brussel: Kenniscentrum Woonzorg Brussel.  
• Smetcoren, A.-S, De Donder, L., Duppen D., De Witte, N., Vanmechelen, O. & Verté, D. (2018). Towards an Active Caring Community in Brussels. In T. Buffel, S. Handles, C. Phillipson (Eds.) Age- friendly communities: A Global Perspective (pp.97-118). Bristol: Policy Press.  
• Zorginnovatie in Vlaamse proefuinen: Onderzoek naar Actief Zorgzame Buurten in Brussel en Antwerpen 
• https://www.kenniscentrumwwz.be/welzijn-en-zorg/zorgzame-buurt

Contact person

Prof. Liesbeth De Donder - Liesbeth.De.Donder@vub.be