The aim of AGEING IN BALANCE (AiB)
project is to develop a new solution for
preventing the falls of the older adults,
which would reduce the costs produced
by the falls and increase the quality of
life of the older people. The solution will
include two aspects: assessing the fall
risk and preventing the falls. The fall
risk assessment tools will include fullscale
professional assessments and also
short assessments, which can be used
for self-assessments or by care professionals.
The prevention tools will consist
of physical and cognitive exercises and
also environmental guidance.
In AiB, an innovative model of risks
of falls will be developed. The model
will include all possible risk factors as
described by the various studies and
assessments from all aspects (mental,
physical and environmental: intrinsic
and extrinsicPreventing the majority of
falls would save a lot of money and improve
and prolong the good quality of
life of ageing adults. The project will also
survey the willingness to pay point of
view as well as to better define the costs
and effects. User involvement is crucial
in this project. Users from Spain and
Finland will be engaged in the specification,
development and testing phases
so that the development can be based
on their feedback as well.

http://aib.vtt.fi/

• Western Europe and North America

• Older persons

Ageing in Balance -project aims at creating a process and technologies for covering the full chain of fall risk management, starting from fall risk assessment, fall risk result, preventive recommendations, care plan, and interventions for fall prevention. As the resources of societies are reducing, the importance of individuals to take more responsibility of their own health is rising and the project aims to give solutions also for self-management of fall risk. Fall prevention, in addition of cost savings, improves quality of life of older persons, brings peace of mind to their relatives and significant others and reduces the need of care.