Sociaal Aanraken Op Afstand [Translation: Social distancing? Social touch at a distance? Distant social touching?)

The corona crisis has given rise to the project "Remote Social Touching". Drastic measures by the government are keeping a distance from each other (the "one and a half meters of society") and avoiding physical contact as much as possible. In nursing homes, home care, hospitals and institutions for people with an intellectual disability, care providers have been confronted with dire situations: clients were no longer allowed to be visited or touched, in the palliative phase they had to say goodbye remotely and people died alone without being close to them. loved ones. Professionals are faced with the question of how to bridge the physical distance of one and a half meters when social contact is not possible or is less possible? This has led to the question: "With what effective and accessible applications or interventions, whether or not supported by technology, can social touching remain possible for people with a palliative care need 1), taking into account safety regulations; 2) be simulated remotely and / or 3) replaced? "In a partnership, expertise is bundled in the field of care, social contact, technology and ethics. The project was initiated by the Saxion Academy Healthcare, Nursing lectorate, and the care organizations Zorgaccent and Gelre Hospitals, in which connection was sought with relevant lectorates within the university of applied sciences (Industrial Design, Ambient Intelligence, Sustainable & Functional Textiles, Technology Health & Care and Ethics & Technology) and an SME. The complexity of the issue means that existing options must be carefully weighed or adjusted, or that new solutions must be developed in a multidisciplinary way. This KIEM application provides an impetus for this, on the basis of which a more targeted follow-up application can be written. The innovation question remains topical, even after the COVID-19 pandemic, if care recipients need to be cared for in isolation for other reasons, such as contamination with MRSA bacteria or other infectious diseases.