Reflecting on Living Labs as Multi-Stakeholder Collaborative Networks to Evaluate Technological Products for People Living with Dementia

Abstract

Dementia is a growing societal challenge putting pressure on care systems across Europe. Providing supporting technology for people living with dementia, referring to both people with dementia and their caregivers, is an important strategy to alleviate pressure. In this paper, we present lessons learned from the Interreg NWE Project Certification-D, in which we evaluated technological products with people living with dementia, using a Living Lab approach. Living Labs were set up in five different countries to conduct field evaluations at the homes of people living with dementia. Via an open call products from small to medium enterprises across northwestern Europe were selected to be evaluated in the Living Labs. In this paper, we describe the setup of and reflection on Living Labs as multi-stakeholder collaboration networks to evaluate technological products in the context of dementia. We reflect on the experiences and insights from the Living Lab researchers to execute and operate the Living Labs in such a sensitive setting. Our findings show that Living Labs can be used to conduct field evaluations of products, that flexibility is required to adopt a Living Lab in various care settings with different stakeholder compositions and expertise, and that Living Lab researchers serve as both a linking pin and buffer between people living with dementia and companies and thereby support the adoption of technological products. We close the paper with a proposal of best practices to encourage inclusivity in, and scalability of, Living Labs in the context of dementia.

A comprehensive analysis of digital health-focused Living Labs: innovative approaches to dementia

“…Interdisciplinary collaboration also emerged as a crucial aspect of the selected Living Labs, promoting cooperation among researchers, healthcare professionals, technology experts, designers and people living with dementia to leverage diverse perspectives and expertise in solution development ( 18 ). However, it is fundamental to cultivate strategic partnerships with policymakers and ethical committees to ensure the sustainability of Living Lab initiatives.…”

“…Co-creation with people with dementia can require multiple moments of explaining and repeating instructions, methodologies may need to be adapted to improve accessibility and timeframes may need extending ( 18 ). It is important to highlight that, although core symptoms such as reduced retrospective and abstract thinking, the course of dementia can vary, both between and within individuals, in an unpredictable way ( 48 , 49 ).…”

“…Additionally, they aimed to provide support for professional and family caregivers while alleviating their burdens ( 17 ). In the context of dementia Living Labs, technological products or services that support people to live independently and well at home, such as assistive technology, are the most common ( 18 ).…”

“…The study emphasized the need for diverse stakeholder compositions and expertise. Furthermore, Living Lab researchers were identified as pivotal connectors and buffers between individuals living with dementia and SMEs, facilitating the adoption of technological products ( 18 ). It also highlighted that the implications of living with dementia need to be acknowledged and respected by care professionals, researchers and companies which may imply the adaptation of the technology, methodologies, or evaluation process, requiring time, flexibility, patience and commitment by all of the institutions involved ( 18 ).…”

Knowledge Innovation Ecosystem for the Promotion of User-Centre Health Innovations: Living Lab Methodology and Lessons Learned Through the Proposal of Standard Good Practices

“…The LLs have been applied around the globe, to generate impactful innovation within and suited to real-life problems and contexts [8]. These systems are associated with different conceptualizations and there is no general agreement in terms of their standard definition [9, 10]. However, based on our experience and understanding, we define LLs as a knowledge innovation ecosystem (KIE) of diverse interconnected and interacting end-users and other stakeholder partners which engage through keenness, trustful relations building and knowledge sharing to co-create, entrench and/or leverage end-user-centred breakthroughs at one or more innovation phases and in a real-life driven-context (Figure 1).…”