Life-Based Design Against Loneliness Among Older People

Abstract

Developing successful service concepts has to rely on the efficient exploitation of knowledge about everyday life. This design thinking is called life-based design (LBD) and it is based on examining different aspects of forms of life as a starting point for technology design. Here, we consider LBD in the context of reducing the feeling of loneliness. Via the implementation of focus groups, we studied how different age groups experienced loneliness, and examined whether generational formation could give insight into analysing different life situations and forms of life in the context of social relationships. Exploring forms of life is a focal tool of LBD, stressing the importance of understanding the cultural, social and psychological facts and values that would explain people’s actions in a particular life situation. Finally, we suggest an integrated service system to decrease the feeling of loneliness.