Seniors Independent Living Collaborative
Mission
The organization's mission is to improve the safety, comfort and independence of older adults choosing to age in place by facilitating their use of information, communication and control technologies to better manage their homes and to remain connected with their families and friends. SILC pursues this mission by conducting:
- Consumer Science & Engineering Research - to deepen our understanding of the cognitive and physical challenges older adults encounter when aging in place and to advance the design of improved smart home management devices to meet those challenges;
- Consumer Education - to inform senior homeowners about the benefit of these technologies and to provide guidance and direct assistance in their assessment, acquisition, and installation of selected smart home management devices;
- Installation Contractor Training - to equip independent contractors with the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to meet the special needs of senior homeowners during their in-home service calls; and
- Collaborative R&D Initiatives - to facilitate university-industry research and development projects to advance state-of-the-art design for smart home devices that specifically accommodate the needs and preferences of senior homeowners.
Operation
SILC operates as an open research collaborative and invites the participation of university, industry, and independent researchers interested in advancing state-of-the-art technologies that enable older adults to live more safely, comfortably and independently as they age in their homes.
SILC is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of noted researchers in the fields of gerontology, aging studies, family and consumer sciences, engineering and energy and environmental technology transfer. SILC is an Illinois nonprofit corporation and is recognized as a public charity by the IRS under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3). Donors can deduct contributions made to SILC under IRC Section 170.
SILC is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of noted researchers in the fields of gerontology, aging studies, family and consumer sciences, engineering and energy and environmental technology transfer. SILC is an Illinois nonprofit corporation and is recognized as a public charity by the IRS under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3). Donors can deduct contributions made to SILC under IRC Section 170.