Initiatives: BetterAge
How can we organize social, affordable, and sustainable living environments for the increasing group of older adults? The BetterAge SFI-initiative at the University of Bergen will address this by designing a new living model of lifestyle dynamics that empowers independent living for older adults throughout their lives.
About the research project
This is a proposed Centre for Research-based Innovation (SFI) for the Research Council of Norway's call in 2024-2025.
Key challenges and objectives:
As we are getting older, physical, mental, and social abilities are gradually declining: multimorbidity and the need for costly and resource-demanding long-term care are the reality for many. No systematic Norwegian non-institutional living model for healthy ageing exists, although the infrastructure and technology are available.
BetterAge addresses these long-term needs at the intersection of construction, urban and rural planning, digitalization, and healthcare, to help shape the emerging sector of smart-tech-enabled age-friendly environments.
Thus, Better Age will design a new living model of lifestyle dynamics that empowers independent living for older adults throughout their lives.
Research, innovation, and education:
BetterAge will engage a broad spectrum of Norwegian stakeholders: older adults and their families, the co-living communities (e.g., students, neighbors), the health technology industry, the construction industry, researchers, healthcare professionals, national authorities, and other interested parties.
Our approach will focus not only on sharing information but also on fostering collaboration, co-creation, and the exchange of knowledge across the sectors.
We will design a modular education program aimed at academia, industry, and the public sector, to increase competence and skills in the BetterAge sectors, deployed through on-site training workshops, master courses, and professional organizations.
Contact information
Bettina Husebø (project lead)
Professor, Head of SEFAS
bettina.husebo@uib.no
Lilit Mailyan
Senior Adviser (innovation), UiB
lilit.mailyan@uib.no