Aitona Town Council and IRBLleida promote a research project to evaluate the levels of health and physical activity of elderly people and those in a situation of dependency

Aitona Town Council and the Health Care Research Group (GReCS) of the University of Lleida and the Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (IRBLleida) are promoting a research project with the aim of analysing the data collected through the advanced telecare devices implemented in the municipality of Aitona. This data will make it possible to evaluate the levels of health and physical activity of the elderly or dependent people taking part in the project. This analysis will help to establish behavioural patterns related to well-being, the prevention of risk situations (falls, inactivity, disorientation) and the early detection of critical events.

"In parallel, the study contemplates a second line of research focused on the assessment of the satisfaction and perception of users and families regarding the devices used and the services provided by Aitona Town Council within the framework of the Service Centre. This subjective dimension is key to understanding the real impact of technology on the quality of life and the care relationship" explained the principal investigator of the project, Joan Blanco, and the group leader, Montse Gea, both from the GReCS research group.

Today, 10 July, a collaboration agreement has been signed between the two entities in which IRBLleida undertakes to prepare technical reports to be delivered to Aitona Town Council and to disseminate the results of the study at conferences and in scientific publications. For its part, Aitona Town Council undertakes to provide the anonymised data generated by the devices and to collaborate with the identification and contact with users and families likely to be interviewed for the second part of the project. The project will last eighteen months.