U-TOPIA, Towards empowering older persons living with HIV

Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), thankfully, is no longer an inevitable, terrifying death sentence. With the advent of effective antiretroviral therapy, HIV has been turned into a chronic illness that can be managed in the context of a life expectancy that is pretty close to normal. Living longer, however, is not the same as living in good health with a good quality of life: The lives of the growing population of older persons living with HIV are disproportionately affected by a serious number of physical, mental and social challenges. Project U-TOPIA sets the first step towards the empowerment of older HIV patients. The project has been designed to develop, through co-creation and explorative market analysis, sustainable concept(s) for supportive technology that match the needs of older persons living with HIV to manage and improve their quality of life. Based on the collective results a plan and consortium for further development and commercialisation will be delivered. The consortium includes four end user group organisations in three countries involving primary (older HIV patients) and secondary end users (HIV physicians, social workers, HIV nurses, relatives, formal carers, general practitioners). With the expertise of co-creation leader Waag, Institute for Art, Science & Technology, we are certain to co-create ICT concepts that meet the needs and aspirations of older HIV patients once implemented.