The AD'AGIO project for elderly people with visual disabilities begins its experimentation phase

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Genoa Municipality: Digital technologies with home automation applications, environmental adaptations, and rehabilitation strategies are the three dimensions of the project proposed by the PENELOPE business network and funded by the Genoa Municipality with the "ZIP - Zena Innovative People" project.

The aim of the AD'AGIO project, launched by the PENELOPE business network - consisting of Teseo and David Chiossone Foundation in collaboration with the Department of Architecture and Design of the University of Genoa and Humana Vox - and financed by the Genoa Municipality with the "ZIP - Zena Innovative People" project, is to support elderly people with visual disabilities or fragile vision to live an autonomous and independent daily life through the use of new technologies and the adoption of home-based living and rehabilitation protocols.

"As an administration, we strongly support the formula of combining responses to the new needs of our society with business opportunities, with the aim of a more effective matching of economic development, innovation, and social offering," explains Mario Mascia, the Assessor for Economic Development, who spoke at the presentation this morning. "The Penelope network's project is one of the nine winners of the Zip tender, launched by the Genoa Municipality a year ago and which we will present next week. A tender that has been able to bring out ideas and activate processes of valorization of the urban economy and revitalization of the local economic fabric, post-pandemic, also in terms of employment." Today, AD'AGIO enters its rehabilitation experimentation phase for daily activities in a specially equipped simulation house. Thirty differently involved people, volunteers recruited from those who already have long experience and those who have recently faced a significant reduction in their sight, will be involved in the experimentation of the protocols, and they will evaluate the proposed solutions also in terms of preference and usability. The evaluation tests will consist of simple actions of daily life, tested both in the model house and in their own homes. Digital and home automation applications, environmental adaptations, and rehabilitation strategies, adaptable to all housing situations, are the three dimensions of the AD'AGIO project, designed to concretely respond to the needs of a wide range of citizens. It is estimated that there are approximately 35,000 over-75s living alone in the Genoa area, 8.7% of whom are already visually impaired. It was precisely from an analysis of the needs through focus groups of significant targets that the AD'AGIO project started, with the aim of developing an effective intervention protocol, thanks to the collaboration between architects and designers, rehabilitation therapists of visual disabilities, and experts in Artificial Intelligence and Ambient Assisted Living solutions.

"Through the network work between complementary realities for skills and experiences, we are developing an extended and structured intervention model capable of meeting the growing demand for social, health, and welfare services to be used at home, remotely or in digital mode and through innovative methods and technologies," comments Simone Torretta, director of the David Chiossone Foundation and president of the Penelope business network. "In particular, the David Chiossone Foundation has put its historical experience in visual rehabilitation in all age groups and its approach always oriented to meet the needs of its reference territory at the project's disposal."

"Thanks to its solid background in the field of Ambient Assisted Living and the collaboration with the University of Genoa, of which it is a spin-off, Teseo has developed Kibi, a solution expressly dedicated to the assistance of fragile and long-lived people. Designed not only to improve their daily life and promote independent living, but also to support those who take.

Glossary:

AD'AGIO: The name of a project aimed at supporting elderly people with visual disabilities or fragile vision to live an autonomous and independent daily life through the use of new technologies and the adoption of home-based living and rehabilitation protocols.
Ambient Assisted Living: A concept that refers to the use of technology to enhance the quality of life of elderly and disabled people by providing them with a safer and more comfortable living environment.
Artificial Intelligence: A branch of computer science that deals with the development of intelligent machines that can perform tasks that would typically require human intelligence.
Digital Technologies: Refers to the use of digital tools and technologies to improve the lives of individuals and communities.
Home Automation: The use of technology to automate household tasks and functions, such as lighting, heating, and security.
Humana Vox: A collaboration partner of the PENELOPE business network, focused on developing innovative methods and technologies to meet the growing demand for social, health, and welfare services to be used at home.
Penelope Business Network: A network composed of Teseo and David Chiossone Foundation in collaboration with the Department of Architecture and Design of the University of Genoa and Humana Vox, aimed at developing extended and structured intervention models capable of meeting the growing demand for social, health, and welfare services to be used at home, remotely or in digital mode, and through innovative methods and technologies.
Rehabilitation Strategies: Refers to the use of medical and therapeutic interventions to restore, maintain, and enhance an individual's functional ability and quality of life.
Simulation House: A specially equipped house used to test rehabilitation protocols and interventions in a safe and controlled environment.
ZIP - Zena Innovative People: A project funded by the Genoa Municipality aimed at bringing out ideas and activating processes of valorization of the urban economy and revitalization of the local economic fabric, post-pandemic, also in terms of employment.