This document summarizes a living lab approach being used in Belgium to study workplace innovation in elderly care. Living labs involve real-world testing of innovations with participation of end users and stakeholders. A consortium was formed to launch 10 million euro in funding over 3 years for 4 platforms testing multiple projects. Examples of projects include home medication delivery, case management within homecare networks, and developing community care networks. The scientific consortium provides support, analyzes and evaluates the projects, and communicates insights, suggesting how workplace and process innovations could be introduced to improve job quality and organizational structures within the elderly care system.

1. A living lab approach for studying
workplace innovation in elderly care
Ezra Dessers, Geert Van Hootegem, on behalf of KIO*
KU Leuven – Centre for Sociological Research, Leuven, Belgium
* KIO is an interuniversity consortium studying innovations in elderly care in Flanders
(Belgium). The consortium consists of Mark Leys (OPIH-VUB), Ellen Gorus (GERO-VUB),
Ezra Dessers & Geert Van Hootegem (CeSO-KUL), Marc Jegers (iCher), Patricia De
Vriendt (Arteveldehogeschool), Bart Jansen (ETRO-VUB), Bart Mistiaen & Bart
Grimonprez (HOWEST). The consortium is financed by the Agency for Innovation by
Science and Technology (IWT).
© 2013
6/17/2009 | 1

2. The challenge
•
OECD:
– Cost for long term care will double by 2050
– Demand for long term care workers will double by 2050
•
•
Vast majority of long term care recipients are over 65 years of age
Elderly care is important for developing a sustainable health care system
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3. 3

4. An ageing population
(Source: Flanders Care)
 respond to challenges of ageing population: more chronic diseases and
increased dependence on care
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5. Various initiaves
•
•
•
Strategic and Fundamental Research
Stimulating enterpreneurship and innovation
…
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6. What are living labs?
Knowledge Focus
Single and
Controlled Contexts
Multiple and
Emerging Contexts
High:
Observation
and Creation
Traditional Lab
Experimentation
Living Lab
Experimentation
Low:
Observation
Traditional
Empirical Social
Science Research
Ethnographical
Observation
Degree of
Participation
(Source: Eriksson, Niitamo & Kulkki, 2005)
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7. Living Labs in Elderly Care in Flanders
•
10 million EURO
– 8 million for 4 platforms, with each multiple projects
– 2 million for scientific support and evaluation
•
•
Launched in September 2013
Duration: 3 years
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8. Home
delivery of
medication
Time2Care
Topshake
Case management
and guidance within
a local homecare
network
Suitable living for
elderly
Development of
informal community
care networks
PRO DOMO:
Types of
dwelling
Elderly impact
assessment
(screening by
elderly people)
Diabetes
management
for residents of
assisted living
centres
Therapy loyalty
and medication
safety
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10. Scientific consortium
Support
Scientific
analysis and
evaluation
Communication
of scientific
insights
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11. Workplace Innovation / STS
•
Support:
– Living lab projects (so far) are mainly focused on technological and / or product
innovations.
 suggesting how process and workplace innovation could be introduced in existing and
new projects
•
Analysis and evaluation:
– quality of labour for workers (job content, demands, control, stress…)
– quality of organisation (production structure, control structure, process fragmentation,
coordination …) within and between organisations
 Surveys, organisation scans, inter-organisational network scans
•
Communication
– Information on possible impacts of interventions on quality of work and organisation
– Information on opportunities of workplace innovation / STS for sustainable elderly care
systems
 Communication: academic and practice-oriented reporting of results
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12. Thank you
Ezra Dessers
Centre for Sociological Research
KU Leuven
ezra.dessers@soc.kuleuven.be
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