Millions from the Kamprad Family Foundation to JU research

This year's research grant from the Kamprad Family Foundation has been announced. A total of SEK 164 million have been granted to 34 projects - at about twenty Swedish universities, research institutes and county council regions. The projects are aimed at improving the quality of life for the elderly population. Researchers from Jönköping University are involved in a total of eight of the projects which have been granted funds.

Sofi Fristedt, Associate Professor at the School of Health and Welfare and assistant researcher at Lund University, has been granted funds as main applicant, together with Anna Siverskog, School of Health and Welfare, Ulli Samuelsson, School of Education and Communication, and Steven Schmidt and Susanne Iwarsson from Lund University. The project was granted SEK 3.7 million and concerns welfare technology in home care and is called welfare@home, and will be conducted together with among others Nässjö municipality.

Conducted through three different studies

The starting point of the project is that today's welfare technology is largely developed and introduced without involving the users, i.e., the elderly people who need home care and their home care staff. It will be conducted through three different studies.

“In study one, we will examine in which situations and how current welfare technology challenges, fails, and succeeds in supporting elderly people's safety, activity and participation in home care through the research questions. Through a questionnaire based on the results in the first study, study two will generate general knowledge about the mentioned challenges and unfulfilled needs. In study three, researchers and potential future users of welfare technology in home care will analyse the combined results from the first two studies together and propose at least two new and relevant welfare technology innovations and related implementation strategies,” says Sofi Fristedt.

Sofie Fristedt is also a co-applicant in another project together with Steven Schmidt, "Transdisciplinary research to optimize healthy aging in and out of the home", which was granted SEK 4.7 million.

Project on the quality of life of the elderly during the pandemic

Charlotta Mellander, Professor in economics at Jönköping International Business School (JIBS), has, as main applicant, together with Jonna Rickardsson, doctoral candidate in economics at JIBS been granted SEK 3.1 million for the research project "COVID-19 effects on life-quality of Sweden's elderly and the importance of the place of residence”. The project will look at whether people mainly over the age of 70 have felt worse during the corona pandemic than otherwise and whether this differs depending on where in the country they live.

“Our hypothesis is that those who live outside cities, where congestion is not a direct problem, the lifestyle may have been able to continue as before to a greater degree - and that they have thus become less affected by the pandemic. But as I said, it remains to be seen,” says Charlotta Mellander.

Evaluation of minPension’s Withdrawal Planner

Johannes Hagen, Assistant Professor in economics at JIBS, has been granted SEK 2.1 million for the research project "Digitalization of Pension Claiming in Sweden" as main applicant together with Andrea Schneider, Assistant Professor in economics at JIBS, and Amedeus Malisa, doctoral candidate in economics at JIBS. The purpose of the project is to evaluate the pension portal minPension's new tool for pension withdrawals, the so-called Withdrawal Planner. With the tool, future pensioners can compare the effects on their finances of withdrawing their pensions at different times and during different withdrawal periods. They also receive support in the otherwise rather complex process of withdrawing their pensions.

“By analyzing user data from minPension, we want to find out if the tool affects people's withdrawal choices and, in that case, how. The project is based on a close collaboration with minPension and is expected to contribute with valuable knowledge about how the tool can be further developed and an increased understanding of the importance of digital solutions in the pension area,” says Johannes Hagen.

Other projects with JU researchers involved

JU also has researchers who participate in several other projects, together with other universities and organisations, who have been granted funding from the foundation. These are:

Internet-based relative support via 1177 care guide for relatives who support a person with heart failure

Main applicant Anna Strömberg, Linköping University, SEK 7 million

In collaboration with Linnaeus University, Jönköping University, Region Östergötland, Region Kalmar, Region Jönköping County, and Region Sörmland, National Competence Center relatives and 1177 care guide.

Development of a home-based self-care support program for elderly patients with heart failure

Main applicant Naoko Perkiö Kato, Linköping University, SEK 3.9 million.

In collaboration with the CESAR network, Jönköping University and Karolinska Institutet.

Exergaming to increase physical activity and quality of life in elderly patients with chronic heart disease

Main applicant Trijntje Jaarsma, Linköping University, SEK 3.5 million.

In collaboration with Jönköping University and Karolinska Institutet.

React - Dementia. To detect and counteract abuse against older people with dementia

Main applicant Johanna Simmons, Östergötland Region, SEK 3.8 million.

In collaboration with Jönköping University, Sophiahemmets University, Linköping University, Linnaeus University and Ryhov County Hospital and Höglandssjukhuset hospital in Eksjö.