textiles for ageing society – tags – an overview and selected outcomes

TAGS – An Overview and Selected Outcomes 52nd Man-made Fibres Congress, 11-13.9. 2013, Dornbirn

Textiles for AGeing Society – TAGS –An Overview and Selected Outcomes

J. Široký, F. Constantin, B. Široká, T. Bechtold, L. Boccaletti, L. Ligabue

The Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development“Textiles for Ageing Society”

Grant Agreement Number 290494FP7 – NMP – 2011 – CSA – 5


AGEING SOCIETY – DRIVING FORCE

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Source: Eurostat (data from October 2011) http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Population_structure_and_ageing#

Almost 14% of the EU population is over the age of 65 and this figure is expected to double by 2050. By then we will have a total of 134.5 million older Europeans.

Over the last century average life expectancy in Europe has increased for males from 45.7 to 75.0 years, and for females from 49.6 to 79.9 years, birth rate has reduced.

The proportion of very old people (aged 80 and above) in the EU-25 will grow from 4% in 2004 to reach 6% by 2025 and 10% by 2050.

Source: i2010: Independent Living for the Ageing Society (2007) http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/policy_link/brochures/documents/independent_living.pdf

http://www.salon.com/2010/10/31/shock_of_gray_interview/


COMMON IMAGE OF OLDER PEOPLE

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Definition of an older or elderly person according WHO:

“Most developed world countries have accepted the chronological age of 65 years as a definition of 'elderly' or older person, but this does not adapt well to the situation in Africa. At the moment, there is no United Nations standard numerical criterion, but the UN agreed cutoff is 60+ years to refer to the older population.”

(Source: http://www.who.int/healthinfo/survey/ageingdefnolder/en/index.html)

by karlequinhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/karlequin/

by lukaszdulebahttp://www.flickr.com/photos/lukaszduleba/

Nora Batty


STAGES NOT AGES

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Older people can present with varying stages of physical and cognitive* decline – each having specific needs.

*Cognitive abilities are:attention, language, memory, reasoning, problem solving, and decision making

Cogn

itive

dec

line

Physical decline

by Felix Clayhttp://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/apr/09/baby-boomers-old-peoples-homes

http://blogs.people.co.uk/sam-cope/2011/01/definitely-not-over-the-hill-h.html


COMMON ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH AGEING

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Breathing problems Osteoporosis

Diabetes

Bone and joint conditions

Arthritis

Tissue changes

Stroke

Alzheimers

Eye problems (cataracts, glaucoma)

Depression

Dementia

Reduced immune system

Parkinson’s disease

IncontinenceLoss of balance – risk of falling, headaches or feeling dizzy

Heart attack

Cancer

Hypertension

Arteriosclerosis

Loss of physical strength

Loss of cognitive functions


TAGS – IN DETAILS

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Topic called: NMP.2011.2.3-3 – Networking of materials laboratories and innovation actors in various industrial sectors for product or process innovation –coordination and support actions

Start - End: 1.1.2012 – 31.12.2015 (4 years)

Budget: €1.12 Million (Funded by EC to 100%)

Technical Content/Scope:

• New alliances are needed to bring together all the actors and to broker collaboration between material research and industrial entrepreneurs.

• To stimulate the creation of new ideas/materials to create new businesses (with novel or boosted alliances between material researchers and “creative industries“)

• Aiming at constituting teams of innovators able to close the loop from the laboratories to a product to determine added value or a novel industrial process.

• Actors competent in other aspects that can play a critical role in boosting competitiveness and accelerate success (metrology, standardization, socio-economic, health or environmental impact, regulation)

TAGS – An Overview and Selected Outcomes 52nd Man-made Fibres Congress, 11-13.9. 2013, Dornbirn7

TAGS CONSORTIUM

Research Coordination

Industry/Manufacturers

Technology Development

Care Providers

Innovation and Techn. Transfer Org.

• University of Innsbruck• Thuringian Institute of Textiles and

Plastics Research

• Nonwovens Innovation and Research Institute, Ltd.

• WarmX• Textilverein – Registered association of

textile SMEs• Tessitura Florida S.R.L.

• Connexia – Gesellschaft für Gesundheit und Pflege gem. GmbH

• Vorarlberger Krankenhaus-Betriebsgesellschaft m.b.H

• Anziani E Non Solo società cooperativa

• Fondazione Democenter-Sipe


GENERAL SCHEME

Collection of InformationIdentification of present state of the art, problem areas, demand, available materials and processes, limitations and challenges, definition of requirements

Common understandingbetween research institutions, industrial partners and end-users

New concepts/solutionsConcentrating of new ideas

● Initiation of new projects/co-operations

●New innovation products

Fields of interest:

• Bedding textiles• Clothing• Textile products for hygiene and personal care• Therapeutic and recreational/leisure textiles


TOOLS

Questionnaire: (care-recipients and -givers, manufacturers)

•Bedding Textiles•Clothing

•Knowledge •Expertise

Experts

TAGS Consortium

Brainstorming

•Care recipients•Care giver•Manufacturers•Designers•Research

Present materials/pro

ducts

Barriers

Demands

Recommends

Requests

Problems

Proposals / New Ideas

•Care givers•Manufacturers •Designers •Researchers•Medical doctors


SELECTED OUTCOMES – BEDDING TEXTILES

Moisture, wet or damp perception

Moisture management appropriate

Implementation of suitable:• materials• textile construction• moisture monitoring tools

Prevention of bed sores - skin damage

Fluid/liquid content increases friction, shear force, and pressure to skin builds

Consequence:• Blood circulation reduced• Tissue necrosis• Decubitus or pressure ulcer• Loss of life

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http://decubitusulcervictims.com


Possible reasons not be used:• Natural materials preferred• End-users not aware about other options• Materials development is ahead without connection to end-users• Functional textiles do not reach end-users

SELECTED OUTCOMES – MATERIALS

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Outcome from questionnaire among care institutions (incl. care givers and receivers); total respondents represented ~1000:

94.8

4.54.5 8.5

Materials wished for in bedding (%)

Natural Synthetic Do not know Other

AUSTRIA ITALY

0

20

40

60

80

100

Materials used in bedding (%)

Austria Italy

Where all synthetic/functional textiles gone??


“Why does everything have tobe beige, I hate beige, no one ever asks me what I want!”

SELECTED OUTCOMES - COLOR

Need for:

● Colorful textiles● Light colors – provides safe feeling (others

can see me)


SELECTED OUTCOMES - BARRIERS

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Potential for added value / functionality in bed sheets not recognised

•End-user expectations / needs recognised

Existing garments are not designed for elderly’s use

•Reason – Changes in body shape can make it very difficult to acquire correctly fitting clothing, leading to discomfort and loss of dignity

Issues with trust to sensors

•End-user – is something wrong with me?•Care giver – if technology fails, the quality of care will be questioned

Work together with the care organisation, care givers towards innovations (no linkage between research, manufacturers and end-users)

•Example – Pads / diapers available with blue sign when wet – no chance to see it during night

Cost – Financial issues are striking, limited financial capacity, affordable smart textiles / materials

Marketing barrier

•Fear to damage of brand image•Fragmented market

Source: http://www.wacoal.ph/mvc/page/p-4

by bulldog1http://www.flickr.com/photos/bulldogsrule/


SELECTED OUTCOMES – PROBLEMADULT INCONTINENCE MARKET

• incontinence affects up to 7 % of the world’s population that is over 20 million people!• it is growing at about 5 % annually• Europe accounts for just less than 40% of the total market, North America for slightly more than

20% and Asia for just under 30%• single-use adsorbent hygiene products are state of the art• Actual requirement profile of adult pads:

o no leakageo no reweto no noiseo no bulk = almost invisible to all otherso no odour = at least no urine odouro easy to wear - easy to dispose

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F. Meister, M. Krieg; Textiles for Ageing Society – An Material Overview; TAGS 1st Mid-Year meeting, June 2012

Eco friendly / environmentally sustainable???

no need of biodegradability (no expansion for composting facilities)

reduction of crude-oil consumption


SUMMARY

Bedding textiles contribute significantly to the overall quality of sleep – high importance – help to

maintain a good condition of elderly

Chemistry of materials / materials development is ahead without connection to end-users

Integrate the discipline of design as early as possible into the planning process of product

development – pattern development and colourful product available

Formulate the market of adapted clothing and formulate concepts to innovate / develop design

Necessity to link / network all players on the textiles and clothing market, research institutions, social

and medical care providers – the innovative products / materials / ideas will reach end-users

It needs to be shown to care givers: How textiles actually improve their work

“Why to use intelligent (smart) textiles and not textiles more intelligently” – often raw materials can

provide advantageous characteristics and properties

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OUR TARGET

“Creating a better life for all”

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

“The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement No. 290494.”

Contact:Research Institute of Textile Chemistry and Textile PhysicsLeopold-Franzens University of InnsbruckHöchsterstrasse 73, 6850 Dornbirn

Tel.: +43 (0) 5572 28533 593E-mail: [email protected]

[email protected]

Follow us:Homepage: http://www.textilesforageingsociety.eu/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TextilesForAgeingSocietyTAGSTwitter: https://twitter.com/#TAGS_FP7

textiles for ageing society – tags – an overview and selected outcomes

Documents

manmade fibres congress

selected outcomesj

older person

older population

older europeans

cognitive abilities

elderly person

eu population