Let's talk about Ambient Assisted Living (AAL), to explain this European research program in greater depth. AAL is a financed initiative that aims to help and create better conditions for the elderly and people with disabilities and to reinforce industrial opportunities in the information technology and communication sectors.
The specific objectives are to favor the emergence of innovative products, services and systems so people can grow, old and live well at home, in the community and at work, while improving the quality of life, autonomy, as well as helping them to have a better social life and reduce the costs of health care and social services. Other aims include creating a critical mass of research, development and innovation on a community level in technologies and services, encouraging small and medium-sized businesses to participate, and improving the conditions for industrial exploitation.
Basically, developing new technologies to allow the elderly and disabled people to live by improving their autonomy, facilitating daily activities, ensuring good, safe conditions, monitoring and treating those who are ill. Such techniques could avoid, in many cases, admission to hospitals or nursing homes, and also help the community to save money.
The total cost of the program is 700 million euros for 7 years, 25% of which comes from the Union, 25% from the member states and 50% from companies. The European Commission has allocated a total of 150 million euros. Member states of AAL give financial help to the people from their own country, whether they have taken part in a successful project or are entitled to assistance in accordance with national rules. The aging population is a long-term trend that began several decades ago in the EU and the rest of the world. Over the past two decades, the share of the working age population in the EU-27 has increased by 0.3 percentage points, while the share of the elderly population has increased by 3.7 percentage points. This is also why projects specifically designed for people who are advanced in age are needed, with the help of businesses of all sizes, bringing new solutions to the markets. And we are taking advantage of this opportunity, says Ponte Giulio, through partnerships which allow us to be protagonists in creating areas that, in addition to having sophisticated and discrete technological and monitoring systems, are
barrier-free and safe. Ensuring autonomy while using the bathroom space has always been a mission for our company, and this has led us to create increasingly stable and safe grab bars and shower trays, provide the right solution for all situations, and at the same time, give a refined character to our products.
"We have always studied cutting edge articles to make bathroom spaces accessible for everyone", concludes Ponte Giulio. We believe that autonomy and accessibility are synonymous not only with civilization, but also with modernity and that bathroom spaces must be thought of as personalized areas belonging to people who must create their own environment, based on their needs and preferences".
Ponte Giulio: aids and accessories for intelligent bathrooms.
