Title: Social innovation in services: technologically assisted new care models for people with dementia and their usability

Authors: Tony Kinder

Addresses: School of Business and Economics, University of Edinburgh, William Robertson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JY, UK.

Abstract: The holy grail of service innovation is improved quality at a lower cost. West Lothian in Scotland has developed a new care model for people with dementia and the elderly based upon technologically supported independent living. Referencing ten years of participant-observation in the integrated care processes creating this model, the author presents a case study of West Lothian smart housing from the viewpoint of social innovation. Six conceptual tools are introduced which are helpful in guiding and analysing local service social innovation. Mulgan|s (2005) four characteristics of social innovation structure this analysis. The paper argues that social innovation in local services is non-linear and open in character and successful where the psychic distance between service provider and users is low.

Keywords: social innovation; elderly; technological-assisted care; new care models; dementia; service innovation; Scotland; independent living; smart housing; local services.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2010.033131

International Journal of Technology Management, 2010 Vol.51 No.1, pp.106 - 120

Published online: 06 Apr 2013 *

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