echome at home

echome at home is part of a Participatory Research project delivered in partnership with Age UK, Leeds and funded through a Research England Grant. On the basis of the participant feedback we received in 2023 as part of the Brand New Sense project, echome at home aimed to equip Age UK, Leeds with the reosurces and know how to embed echome in the activities of the organisation. Upon the completion of the project, Age UK, Leeds received the echome software and sensors as well as 4 echome boxes. These can be used as part of the sessions offered at the Hub and they can also be taken out by clients to use at home as well as volunteers and staff.

A focus group of five participants tested the use of the box at home and contributed towards the development of a booklet, which accompanies the box. The project also confirmed and deepened some of the key themes that have emerged throughout the research with older adults: the significance of self-determined movement for sustaining engagement and  self efficacy; the co-relationship between physical activity, sensory stimulation and mood; the use of the sound as a means of 'taking space' and interfacing with others. The testing period also produced a set of unexpected results in terms of the use of the box (as documented in the film), which open up promising pathways for future research.