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AI for seniors: Innovative projects support a self-determined life!
The 15th LINGA week begins in Vechta on June 2, 2025 to develop AI-supported innovations for older people.
AI for seniors: Innovative projects support a self-determined life!
The final event of the 15th LINGA week took place on June 2, 2025 at the University of Vechta. This important event was held under the motto “Brägenplietschmachin – AI in the everyday living of older people” and attracted around 35 students from various disciplines, including gerontology, social work, management, design, computer science and architecture.
The LINGA week, organized by the Lower Saxony state initiative for generation-friendly everyday life (LINGA), aims to develop social innovations that support older people through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). At the beginning of the event, two days at the OFFIS Institute in Oldenburg were used for inspiration from practice and science. This was followed by two weeks of digital work and an intensive 48-hour sprint from May 21st to 23rd at the Vechta Youth Center.
Innovative solutions for older people
As part of the competition, students were encouraged to develop creative concepts that are geared towards the needs of older people. The participants presented their results and a five-person jury of experts awarded prizes totaling 3,000 euros. The students' projects aimed to combine technological advances with social acceptance and respect ethical standards.
| Place | Project name | team | concept | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Third place | MIRA | Annelis Tyws, Kübra Ögüt | Voice-controlled, AI-based everyday assistant integrated into a mirror | 600 euros |
| Second place | Fraud Radar + | Mareike Wisdom | App to protect the elderly from fraud attempts | 900 euros |
| First place | Smart house | Dominique Beuran, Marcos Riokalo Delmazo | Smart home approach for older people | 1,500 euros |
The award-winning projects demonstrate a strong spirit of innovation. First place went to the “Smarter Huus” project, which takes an AI-supported approach to monitoring the living environment of older people. These solutions help to make everyday life safer and more independent.
Future prospects and social relevance
The LINGA Week has been held since 2010 and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration in the search for creative solutions to the challenges of demographic change. The initiative receives support from the Lower Saxony Ministry of Social Affairs, Labor, Health and Equality to develop cross-generational projects.
Particular attention is also paid to the technologization of life in old age. According to a project report, the AI for Well Aging program aims to involve older people in the development and application of AI systems. It promotes learning modules that address ethical issues and are intended to strengthen the participation of senior citizens' organizations in the discourse on AI. This is done to ensure that AI technologies also meet the interests of older people and improve their quality of life.
Overall, the events and the associated awards for the students show that the topic of AI not only offers innovative solutions in the everyday lives of older people, but also highlights the social responsibility to actively include older people in the digital world. As already rollingplanet.de and digitalpakt-alter.de stated, this is an important step towards making technological progress inclusive.
The best ideas from the competition will also be presented at the exhibition at the “Aging with Tech Festival 2025” in Hamburg on June 10th and 11th, 2025, which will offer students another valuable platform to present their innovative concepts.