Long-term care is facing many significant challenges, including an ageing population and a decline in the recruitment of young care workers, which results in significant staff shortages in the coming years. It is therefore important that older people continue to function independently for as long as possible. Assistive technology (AT) devices can be a solution to achieve this. To ensure the optimal utilization of AT devices it is imperative that individuals have access to the most suitable AT devices and the appropriate AT care needed to achieve independence.

In the Netherlands, the provision of AT devices via the Health Insurance Act is governed by a specific mandate. Rather than being guided by a diagnosis, the focus is on the intended functioning of the client/ AT user. This is defined as the activities that the client wishes to perform, can perform, and is permitted to perform from a care perspective. It is also standard practice in the Netherlands to advise on the basis of stepped care, which means that clients obtain the most effective, least burdensome and cheapest care or AT device possible, related to the nature and severity of the problem. It is imperative to acknowledge the diverse interests of stakeholders involved in the provisioning process, as these interests significantly influence their approach to providing AT. In the Netherlands, a method has been developed using a co-design approach with all stakeholders to design an optimal process for AT distribution, considering the different interests, laws and mandates. This method has already been successfully applied twice by the Living Lab Assistive Technology for Independence (coordinated by Zuyd University of Applied Sciences) for a) dynamic arm supports and robotic arms and b) assistive devices for donning and doffing compression hosiery.

The workshop will provide insights into this experience based co design method to develop a provision process of assistive devices with all stakeholders and actions and related tools to implement the optimal provision process.

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