TAGS - Textiles for an Ageing Society
Example: Walk us through a specific example(s) of how this solution makes a difference; include its primary activities.
Marketplace: Who else is addressing the problem outlined here? How does the proposed project differ from these approaches?
Coordination and Support Action in the 7th European Framework Programm - TAGS Textiles for an Ageing Society
Network
, Dornbirn
1‐5 years
The Research Institute of Textile Chemistry and Textile Physics of the University Innsbruck is the coordinating institution of the EU funded project TAGS GA 290494.
As a research institution in the field of academic textile research the institute takes the responsibility to bring together actors from care-giving, elderly, industry and research to innovate the field of textiles for elderly.
The institute contributes with expertise in textile processing, materials and research for new products.
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NIRI | The Nonwovens Innovation & Research Institute (UK)
Private company
Niri is a specialist for new concepts in nonwovens which are of high relevance for hygiene and personal care applications. This partner brings in technical expertise and product know-how
CONNEXIA | Verein zur Förderung der Gesundheit und Pflege (AT)
Non-profit/NGO
Connexia brings in expertise in care for elderly and thus provides information about demands and needs for textiles for elderly
ANZIANI E NON SOLO (IT)
Non-profit/NGO
ANZIANI E NON SOLO (IT)
This partner brings in long lasting experience in care giving for elderly, provides access to groups of elderly in special conditions and contributes with definition of demands and chances for new products
TEXTILVEREIN | Registered association of textile SMEs
Non-profit/NGO
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Textilverein is an association of textile companies in Vorarlberg, a region in Austria which has high density in textile enterprises. This partner provides access to the private sector, which is required to understand the limits and possibilities of industry.
Personalized health management, Integrated care for chronic conditions, Assisted daily living, Independent living solutions, Age friendly buildings, environments, and communities.
The network consortium analyses current situation of textiles for elderly in form of regular meetings. Through common understanding of needs and opportunities products can be designed more appropriate and also "barriers" which prevent wider use of products can be identified. Through the complementary expertise the analysis of the products and demands is very competent. This also includes elderly with specific conditions e.g. Parkinson, stroke.
A direct outcome of the network activities is the initiation of new trials, research programms, but also information / training activities for care givers.
A project initiative has been started (Austrian Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft FFG) which start the development of liquid sensors in bedding to improve care work and quality of life of elderly. The project has been granted and will start in August 2013. Partners in the project are: Bedding producer, technical embroidery enterprises, care-home, electronic sensor company, commercial laundry enterprise.
Another initiative will focus on the improvement of emotional situation of elderly in care homes through more "personal" desing of bedding (colour, design, handle..). The project will be started in September 2013.
for 1‐5 years
substitutive (your solutions is substituting existing solutions because they do not meet needs or solve the problem appropriately)
The major barrier which we fear could be a financial one.
After identification of improved product concepts for textiles for elderly (which also have to be affordable) the financial risk to bring such products on the market to make the available for elderly could be the major difficulty to manage.
It will be one of the big challenges to convince private enterprises to invest in this new field of products, as marketing and product placement could be completely different to existing concepts.
5
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10
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the members of the consortium bring in:
textile material and research expertise, expertise in care giving, hygiene and healt aspects, production of textiles and garment
Activity is organized in Work Packages (WPs):
Information collected in WP 1 and a common understanding between partners through interaction in WP 2, will serve as a ground for brainstorming sessions in WP 3. Initially work performed in WP 1 will be concentrated around one of four main product groups: bedding; clothing; hygiene and personal care; therapy and recreation. Understanding of competencies of each institution, in WP 4, will lead to identification of areas of mutual interest for research. WP 5 will ensure communication, and WP6 dissemination.
http://www.textilesforageingsociety.eu/
350,000.-
%15
%85
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The main target group are elderly (in EU people with an age above approx. 65 y) as users of improved textiles.
The outcome of the project also is intended to be reach producers, care-givers and decision makers to increase awareness about specific needs and appropriate textile products. Researchers will be directed towards existing needs.
this is really difficult at the moment, our questionaires represent approximately several hundreds of elderly in Europe
Austria (Vorarlberg), Italy (Carpi region)
Better quality of life for elderly (mobility, independence and emotional situation) and improvement of working conditions of care givers.
Producers will be able to fit new products better to the real demands, and decision makers will be aware of the linkage between appropriate products and quality of life of elderly
From what we saw up to now there is a need for redefinition of the status of elderly. The quality of the age above 65 has to be redefined and new positive attributes have to be brought in, which also have to be expressed through specific textiles and clothing. These products have to deal with positive and unique attributes: wisdom, experience, even-tempered, emotionally strong, history and experienced of life.
We hope our project will help to visualise this challenge more clearly.
The first major impact is the generation of initiatives in the field of new/improved bedding textiles. This will demonstrate the potential of such approaches and we expect these activities to become examples for well targeted developments for elderly.
Experience-based self-assessment (you assessed the impacts based on your experiences with the target group), Feedback-based self-assessment (you assessed the impacts based on feedback from the target group without using specific methods).
Mission and strategy, Organisational structure, Information on team members, Activity report.
1. Extension of the work from bedding to clothing, textile products for hygiene and personal care; and therapeutic and recreation textiles.
2. Dissemination through conferences, the homepage and publications
3. Extensive reports summarising the situation of the respective group of textile products as basis for new developments
4. Initiation of research and develoment activities for well targeted products