The challenges of The Department of Care for the Elderly and Disabled in Aalborg Municipality are well-known: More elderly people and a higher demand for care with less staff and resources.

The Department has chosen to focus on these issues. Through our Innovation Unit we focus on changing the usual way of thinking and encourage new initiatives to improve and develop the quality of life for the citizens and our staff. To The Department of Care for the Elderly and Disabled innovation is "creativity * successful implementation". The key words for creating welfare innovation are openness, inspiration and involvement. All these values are a part of the "Letter of Freedom" (Frihedsbrevet), which focuses on strategic goals in Aalborg Municipality. Please see: Frihedsbrev Vision 2015

The innovation in The Department of Care for the Elderly and Disabled takes place all over the department. However, the following places are particularly significant to the innovation:

• The Care Home of the Future (Fremtidens Plejehjem): The care home includes a living lab. This living lab enables the innovation and development staff as well as private companies and educational institutions to perform testing of welfare technology, work processes and methods. The advantage of the living lab is that it is located in a care home and thus citizen involvement is always possible. Please see: Care Home of the Future
• Centre for Welfare Technology (Center for Velfærdsteknologi): Offers citizens, staff and other interested parties an opportunity to see and test welfare technologies. The center enables companies to test and demonstrate their assistive technologies. Please see: Center for Welfare Technology
• Rehabilitation Center Aalborg (Rehabiliteringscenter Aalborg): The center offers rehabilitation, based on individual requirements in order to strengthen the independence of the citizens. Educational institutions and companies may apply to test new rehabilitation opportunities. Please see: Rehabilitation Center Aalborg
• The Innovation Unit (Innovationsenheden): The Innovation Unit works with welfare innovation in the entire Department of Care for the Elderly and Disabled. The Innovation Unit may be contacted as an entry to innovation in The Department of Care for the Elderly and Disabled. Please see: The Innovation Unit

The model used in the innovation work has been taken from the innovation platform of The Department of Care for the Elderly and Disabled called "Aalborg på Forkant" (Aalborg at the Forefront). The basis of this model is that innovation takes place all over the organization.