AAL impact assessment

Impact of the AAL calls
and support actions

1. Better quality of life for older people and their networks

How the Programme has been successful in enhancing the well-being and independence of older adults and has expanded access to health and care solutions across care systems through the widespread adoption and integration of AAL solutions. These impacts were assessed to have helped older adults feel safer and more confident, maintain or enhance skills and employability, engage in social life, and retain autonomy, contributing to an active, independent lifestyle. The assessment also found that informal caregivers also benefit from AAL solutions, which have enhanced their ability to support older adults’ independence and quality of life.

Mental and social well-being

67%

of respondents with an AAL product on the market report that older adults using their product maintain better mental health and participate in social activities with their networks for at least an additional year.

56%

observe that users remain in better physical condition and independently interact with their social networks for at least a year.

Increased market reach and access to solutions

4,268

Adoption of AAL products within care systems is a medium-term objective, aimed at providing broader access to these solutions across Europe. In 2023, the average number of end-users per solution doubled (4,268) from 2021 (1,855).

238

The number of paying customers dropped to 238 from 771 in 2021, primarily due to a rise in care organisations as indirect paying customers, leading to broader end-user access.

Enhanced adoption through user-centred development

A user-centred approach, central to the AAL Programme, significantly increases product adoption (82%) and relevance (88%), aligning closely with 2021 findings (74% for adoption and 85% for relevance).

Key lessons from AAL projects include user-testing and need adaptation (75%), raising awareness among end-users (46%), and enhancing user acceptance (41%).

Awareness of active ageing solutions and user engagement

84%

of respondents believe the AAL Programme raises awareness of active ageing solutions among older adults and their networks, slightly down from 91% in 2021.

73%

Support actions, such as AAL2Business, reinforce user-involvement skills, with 70% reporting improved capabilities in user engagement and 73% in identifying user needs.

2. Increased efficiency and sustainability of support and care systems

How the Programme has been successful in increasing efficiency and sustainability in support and care systems by fostering early risk detection, encouraging the use of innovative tools, and improving interaction quality between carers and older adults. Despite some reported declines in perceived impact compared to 2021, the Programme’s emphasis on user-centred development and cross-border collaboration ensured its solutions have been both relevant and impactful and have been significantly integrated into care systems across Europe over the past 10 years.

Key contributions to care efficiency and sustainability

Early risk detection and improved cost efficiency

AAL solutions improve early detection of risks and reduce pressure on healthcare providers by offering tools for automation and innovative care.

They also enhance cost efficiency in formal care sectors and provide better support for both formal and informal carers.

Improved quality of interaction

44%

of launched AAL products/services contribute to increased time for meaningful interaction between carers (formal and informal) and older adults.

Adoption of innovative solutions

56%

of launched solutions result in increased use of other innovative tools by carers, a significant improvement from 23% in 2021.

Adoption, awareness, and user-cantered development

End-users and paying Customers

56%

On average, launched AAL solutions reached 4,268 end-users in one year, with formal and informal carers comprising 56% of the total. This proportion is consistent with 2021 levels.

42%

Paying customers include 42% informal carers and 44% care organisations. The share of care organisations grew significantly from 1% in 2021, suggesting increased adoption within formal care systems. This shift explains the reduced overall number of paying customers, as care organisations indirectly support a broader base of end-users.

Awareness among carers

71%

of respondents agree that the AAL Programme helps raise awareness among formal carers. However, this represents a decline from 86% in 2021.

Networking and cross-border

collaboration facilitated by the programme have been key to building trust, openness, and awareness of innovative care solutions.

User-centred approach

The user-centred development model has been central to the increased adoption and relevance of AAL solutions. This modality ensures that products address real user needs and are more likely to succeed in the market.

Limitations and areas for improvement

Perceived impact decline in certain areas

Compared to 2021, respondents report a weaker impact of AAL solutions on:

Making care visits more relevant through automated risk detection (11% in 2023 vs. 69% in 2021).

Relieving the burden on carers (22% in 2023 vs. 62% in 2021).

Awareness Levels

While still significant, the percentage of respondents reporting increased awareness among formal carers has declined from 2021.

Relieving the burden on carers (22% in 2023 vs. 62% in 2021).

3. Strengthening the industrial base for active ageing solutions in Europe

How the Programme has been successful in promoting market-ready solutions, supporting active ageing, and strengthening an ecosystem of care, collaboration and commercialisation across Europe.

Quality of life improvements for older adults

67%

of respondents with AAL products on the market observed that older adults maintained better mental condition and continued engaging in social activities for at least one additional year.

56%

reported improved physical condition and independent interaction with social networks for at least one additional year.

Reach and user impact

Older adults comprised 38% of the end-users, nearly the same as the 37% reported in 2021.

Average of 238 paying customers per solution, with older adults making up 9%. This is a decrease from 771 paying customers in 2021, as more care organisations became indirect paying customers, supporting larger end-user groups.

Average of 4,268 end-users reached per AAL solution within one year, a substantial increase from 1,855 end-users in 2021

User-centred development

82%

of respondents reported that user-involvement significantly impacted product/service adoption.

88%

confirmed that user-centred development enhanced product relevance.

Awareness among caregivers

84%

of respondents believe the AAL Programme raises awareness among older adults and their networks about active ageing solutions.

71%

of respondents observed that AAL Programme activities raised awareness among formal carers, slightly down from 86% in 2021.

Support for formal and informal carers

44%

of launched AAL products reportedly increased time for qualitative interaction between carers and older adults.

56%

of respondents said that their solutions led to greater adoption of other innovative tools by formal and informal carers, a rise from 23% in 2021.

Cross-border and EU market potential

77%

of respondents reported gaining knowledge about bringing AAL solutions to other regions and EU markets.

100%

of respondents who had experience launching AAL products agreed that collaboration within the AAL Programme facilitated market entry across the EU.

Network expansion and knowledge sharing

92%

of respondents learned more about AAL and shared knowledge through AAL Forum activities, an increase from 75% (learning) and 80% (knowledge sharing) in 2021.

94%

of respondents reported expanding their networks through participation in the AAL Forum and the European Week of Active and Healthy Ageing.

4. EU added value from strengthening the AAL ecosystem and community

The survey concludes that the AAL Programme has delivered clear EU-added value by fostering a cohesive and innovative ecosystem for active assisted living. Through international collaboration, expanded networks, and systemic capacity building, the Programme supports the development and deployment of solutions that extend beyond national borders. These impacts underscore the critical role of the Programme in advancing Europe’s leadership in active assisted living and its related fields.

Building a resilient and sustainable AAL ecosystem

Focus on systemic innovation

The Programme has evolved to address the broader systemic dimension of innovation implementation, prioritising a resilient and sustainable ecosystem.

Knowledge sharing and coordination

The Programme promotes capacity building, cooperation, and better understanding across user and stakeholder groups, supporting cross-border knowledge exchange.

International collaboration and market readiness

Relevance to Expanding Markets

77%

of respondents agree that learning from AAL projects is relevant for bringing solutions to markets across the EU and beyond.

100%

For participants with experience launching products or services, this percentage rises to 100%, highlighting the value of collaboration and research facilitated by the Programme.

Cross-border networking

70%

of participants report moderate or significant benefits from the networks established during their AAL projects.

Pivotal Role

These networks play a pivotal role in enabling participants to access new markets and strengthen their operational capacity.

Strengthening networks and partnerships

Organisational impacts

Participation in the AAL Programme has led to the acquisition of new partners and strengthened social engagement and networking opportunities for organisations.

The role of the AAL Forum Support Action

92%

of respondents who participated in the AAL Forum report that it helped broaden their professional networks.

The Forum fosters collaboration and creates connections that extend the influence of the AAL community across Europe.

Evidence of ecosystem strengthening

Survey confirmation

80%

of participants agree that the AAL Programme contributes to strengthening the broader AAL ecosystem and community. This result is consistent with the 2021 survey findings.

48%

Of these, 48% credit the Programme with “greatly” strengthening the ecosystem, while 32% see moderate benefits.

Consistent benefits over time

Participants continue to emphasise the Programme’s role in enhancing collaboration, broadening networks, and supporting capacity building, maintaining high satisfaction levels since the 2021 assessment.

Lessons learned
for future partnerships

The AAL Programme successfully strengthened the ecosystem, facilitated commercialisation, and delivered valuable insights into innovation implementation. However, targeted efforts to overcome persistent barriers and refine support mechanisms will always be critical to realising its full potential in the future.

Key learnings from AAL Programme outputs, outcomes, and impacts

The survey clearly identified how we can learn from the positive impacts of AAL activity and use insights from its success stories to leverage key benefits and address the challenges of implementation and commercialisation.

Reducing barriers and future development in the AAL Programme

The survey identified several barriers to commercialising AAL solutions and proposed actionable strategies for overcoming them. While progress has been made in developing the AAL ecosystem, challenges remain, particularly around market maturity and systemic transformation. In conclusion, the survey found that The AAL Programme’s strengths in collaboration, networking, and user-centred development have provided a solid foundation for addressing barriers and advancing care ecosystems. Strategic actions in funding, partnerships, and ecosystem transformation will be critical to sustaining this progress towards future innovation uptake across Europe.

AAL impact assessment

Impact of the AAL calls and support actions

1. Better quality of life for older people and their networks

Mental and social well-being

67%

56%

Increased market reach and access to solutions

4,268

238

Enhanced adoption through user-centred development

Awareness of active ageing solutions and user engagement

84%

73%

2. Increased efficiency and sustainability of support and care systems

Early risk detection and improved cost efficiency

Improved quality of interaction

44%

Adoption of innovative solutions

56%

End-users and paying Customers

56%

42%

Awareness among carers

71%

Networking and cross-border

User-centred approach

Perceived impact decline in certain areas

Awareness Levels

3. Strengthening the industrial base for active ageing solutions in Europe

Quality of life improvements for older adults

67%

56%

Reach and user impact

User-centred development

82%

88%

Awareness among caregivers

84%

71%

Support for formal and informal carers

44%

56%

Cross-border and EU market potential

77%

100%

Network expansion and knowledge sharing

92%

94%

4. EU added value from strengthening the AAL ecosystem and community

Focus on systemic innovation

Knowledge sharing and coordination

Relevance to Expanding Markets

77%

100%

Cross-border networking

70%

Pivotal Role

Organisational impacts

The role of the AAL Forum Support Action

92%

Survey confirmation

80%

48%

Consistent benefits over time

Lessons learned for future partnerships

Key learnings from AAL Programme outputs, outcomes, and impacts

Reducing barriers and future development in the AAL Programme

Success Stories

Impact of the AAL calls
and support actions

Lessons learned
for future partnerships