On September 14, UNC-ZH, in collaboration with the Master Health Aging and Society and LCO participated in Nacht van Ontdekkingen, a festival celebrating art and science in Leiden.

Interactive activities focused on research

Melanie van der Velde – van Buuringen delivered an inspiring presentation about the Vital Garden, sharing beautiful memories of outdoor activities and highlighting the importance of spending time outside.

Charlotte Poot, Tosca van Hoorde, and Reon Smits from Mentech organized an engaging activity centered around the MASQUE research. Visitors had the opportunity to experience a lie detector test and a VR simulation, learning about the stress sock and the associated research. The researchers discussed the increasing stress levels in individuals with dementia, misunderstood behaviors, and the use of the sock.

Michael Zonneveld contributed valuable insights on digital skills among the elderly. Visitors were able to try out a tablet from an elderly person’s perspective, discovering the challenges involved. He also shared practical do’s and don’ts for better supporting older adults in their digital development.

We are proud of this successful edition, which brought attention to elderly care and research in an accessible way. Many attendees gained insights into important themes within elderly care, fostering greater awareness and understanding.