3 May 2021

CenSE is to lead the University of Edinburgh’s involvement in a new project to develop supportive ecosystems for vulnerable elderly people living in the community.
Elderly lady washing vegetables at a sink

Led by Blackwood Housing Association and funded by UK Research and Innovation (a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy), the project aims to co-design a neighbourhood-based ecosystem, with choice and control for residents as they age at its heart.

Its role is to facilitate engagement and co-design, learn about healthy ageing in an agile way, and position and adapt products and services in response. The project responds to the governmental priorities of local communities that:

  • Sustain physical activity
  • Provide support in managing common complaints of ageing
  • Support social connections
  • Create healthy and active places
  • Encourage digital engagement

The project will work in three differing communities across Scotland. A partnership approach is at its core, collaborating with residents, local authorities, health providers, industry, and academia.

The multi-disciplinary projects include ground-breaking house design, remodelling and retrofitting existing homes, digital empowerment, the creation of supportive local networks, and health and wellbeing self-management. CenSE will advise and lead on stakeholder engagement across these three communities, as well as ensuring that the principles of co-design and of value creation are embedded within the project.

The project will be led within CenSE by Professor Stephen Osborne.