Innovation in care services for the elderly

Faridah Djellal (1) , Faïz Gallouj (1)

1 CLERSÉ - Centre Lillois d’Études et de Recherches Sociologiques et Économiques - UMR 8019

Ageing and innovation are usually considered to be contradictory phenomena. This article on innovation in care services for the elderly seeks to counter this established view. Taking as its starting point a definition of care services for the elderly that draws on the economics of services, the article advances a simple framework for analysing innovation in terms of 'targets'. These targets, which make it possible to circumvent the usual economic categories (product and process innovation), are as follows: the various forms of assistance and residential provision for the elderly, the (tangible and intangible) technologies deployed, the services provided, the human environment (carers and relatives) and the institutional environment.

Mots clés: innovation; elderly services; technologies; residential facilities

Domaines: Economies et finances; Gestion et management

Faridah Djellal, Faïz Gallouj. Innovation in care services for the elderly. Service Industries Journal, 2006, 26 (3), pp.303-327. ⟨halshs-01133189⟩