The latest developments in health technology – including virtual reality and online performance platforms – were among the topics of discussion at a research event in Plymouth.
The Generating Older Active Lives Digitally (GOALD) Stakeholder Conference, held at the National Marine Aquarium, marked the first time that all the project's stakeholders (participants, charity partners, care homes and researchers) had gathered face-to-face to receive an update on the project's findings and discuss their experiences.
GOALD is a joint project between the University of Plymouth’s Centre of Health Technology and the University of Stirling that has been running since March 2021. It is funded by the UKRI Healthy Ageing Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK and the Economic and Social Research Council.
Plymouth’s Professor Ray Jones MBE , Professor of Health Informatics, and Stirling’s Professor Catherine Hennessy opened the conference with a talk about the project’s aims.
Dr Bradwell, Digital Health Research Fellow at the University of Plymouth, said:
"We know physical activity is important for healthy ageing; however, motivation to exercise can be low and activity levels can generally reduce as we get older. Technology can support in motivating and facilitating physical activity but, when designed without the input of older adults themselves, technologies can fail to meet end-user requirements. GOALD addresses this need for co-production of technologies with older adults themselves to ensure products meet the needs and expectations of potential users."
Some of the latest health technology, which has been tested through the project, was also on hand for anyone to try, including the ROVR Wizdish VR headset and treadmill, danceSing (an online platform) and a selection of 360-degree immersive videos.
GOALD uses intergenerational co-production groups to design digital resources and reminiscence tools to encourage older people to become more physically active and socially connected.
So far, the project has run over 150 intergenerational co-production group meetings across Plymouth, Cornwall and Stirling, with participants including a mixture of older and younger people who have been recruited via charity partners and care homes.
