This is the second in a four-part series that demonstrates how the Vivensa Foundation is making an impact. If you missed part one, you can read it here.
Ageing is a deeply personal journey, shaped by individual experiences, needs, and challenges. At the heart of the Vivensa Foundation’s mission lies a commitment to involvement and engagement. We want to ensure that those most affected by ageing-related challenges play a meaningful role in shaping solutions.
Initiatives like TAPPI and MEAAP’s IMPACTAgewell model, funded by the Vivensa Foundation, place older adults at the centre of decision-making and service development. This enables them to live more independent, fulfilling lives.
Co-production in action: TAPPI
Advances in technology and digital services are transforming society. They have huge potential for supporting people to maintain their independence and quality of life as they age.
However, the current adoption of technologies across care, health and housing for older people is inconsistent and not joined up across different services. And it’s not always clear whether new technologies are needed, wanted, and can make a measurable difference to people’s lives.
The Technology for our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation (TAPPI) initiative explored how technology can be used to help more older adults to live independently in the place of their choosing. Guided by a number of principles, the team worked with older residents to co-create and test solutions tailored to their needs.
Resident champions: Driving change through experience
Debra Edwards, a dedicated community champion involved in the TAPPI project in North London and Haringey, played a key role in ensuring that the technologies being introduced were developed with, rather than for, older people.
As someone who has experienced the challenges of living with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, Debra understands the importance of assistive technology in supporting independence.
Through TAPPI, she worked alongside other older residents to identify and implement solutions that truly met their needs. These included voice-activated smart home devices and adaptive housing modifications. Her advocacy and lived experience ensured that the project remained grounded in the real-life challenges and priorities of older individuals.
Transformative technology enabling independence
Similarly, Paul Summers, a resident at Southend Care, exemplifies how technology can restore independence.
Once limited in mobility and socially isolated, Paul now lives independently in an extra-care scheme. Through TAPPI, he gained access to assistive devices such as an Oysta, which boosts his confidence in going out. He also uses an Alexa-enabled reminder system that helps him manage his daily routine.
His story highlights the profound impact that the right digital technologies and support mechanisms can make for older people. It enables them to lead safer and more connected lives.
Holistic well-being: The IMPACTAgewell approach
The IMPACTAgewell model was developed by Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership (MEAAP) as a response to gaps in service provision for older adults. Formed by older people, for older people, it integrates health and social care, ensuring that older individuals are supported in a joined up way.
Through strong community collaboration, including GPs, social care providers, and pharmacists, the programme supports older adults’ physical, emotional, and social wellbeing.
Listening, adapting, and tailoring support
IMPACTAgewell takes a person-centered approach. Officers visit older adults at home, listening to their needs and connecting them with the appropriate support. Issues can range from housing concerns to social isolation, medication management, and more.
Rather than prescribing services, the programme simply asks older adults what they need. Sarah McLaughlin, Executive Director of Health Programmes at MEAPP, highlights one such example in Rosemary. Rosemary was recently bereaved and struggling with health concerns, social isolation, and mobility challenges.
Through MEAAP’s IMPACTAgewell service, she received personalised support, including a medicines review, transport assistance, and community engagement opportunities. Today, she actively participates in IMPACTAgewell’s lived experience group, helping to shape future initiatives.
Working together to deliver for older people
IMPACTAgewell’s approach not only improves individual wellbeing but also alleviates the strain on health services. It proactively addresses issues and bridges the gap between medical care and community support.
One of IMPACTAgewell’s greatest successes has been its ability to bring stakeholders together. GPs, pharmacists, and community partners came together to design and deliver tailored offerings that truly meet the needs of individuals. While aligning priorities was initially challenging, the shared commitment to delivering better, preventative care has led to more effective, sustainable solutions.
Empowering older people to age well
Directly involving older people in developing solutions for their care not only improves the lives of individuals, but can also foster systemic change. TAPPI and IMPACTAgewell exemplify how involvement and engagement can lead to practical, scalable solutions.
These programmes focused on understanding and responding to individual needs are just one part of the story. To create lasting change for older people, we must also transform the environments in which they live.
In part three of this series, we’ll explore how the Vivensa Foundation approaches capacity building.
