Impact Assessment of SALSA (Sensing and Automation for Freedom, Security, Autonomy) Technological Solutions

This study evaluates the impact of assistive technologies designed to improve the independence and safety of adults with disabilities living in shared residential environments. The project is called SALSA, which stands for "Sensorisation, Automation for Freedom, Security and Autonomy." It is being conducted in Milan, Italy, by a collaboration between Cascina Biblioteca Società Cooperativa Sociale, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, and Informatici Senza Frontiere APS. The goal of the study is to determine how well specific technologies-such as smart lighting systems and wearable monitoring devices-support residents' autonomy and daily functioning, while also reducing the workload for professional caregivers. These technologies are installed in apartments where people with mental, social, and/or physical disabilities live together with some support. A total of 55 adults over the age of 18, all residents of Cascina Biblioteca's shared flats, will be enrolled. Technologies will be set up prior to the beginning of the trial. Data will be collected in three phases: before using the technologies (T0), after 30 days (T1), and after 60 days (T2). The evaluation includes personalized goals, physical environment metrics (like temperature, air quality, door use, and night movements), and ease of use of the systems by staff. The study uses Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) to track whether residents achieve their individual or group goals, and the System Usability Scale (SUS) to assess how user-friendly the technologies are from the caregivers' perspective. All data will be collected through structured webforms to reduce the chance of missing information and increase consistency. The study team will use both descriptive and inferential statistical methods to assess results over time. A total of 55 adults over the age of 18, all residents of Cascina Biblioteca's shared flats, will be enrolled. Technologies will be set up prior to the beginning of the trial. Data will be collected in three phases: before using the technologies (T0), after 30 days (T1), and after 60 days (T2). The evaluation includes personalized goals, physical environment metrics (like temperature, air quality, door use, and night movements), and ease of use of the systems by staff. The study uses Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) to track whether residents achieve their individual or group goals, and the System Usability Scale (SUS) to assess how user-friendly the technologies are from the caregivers' perspective. All data will be collected through structured webforms to reduce the chance of missing information and increase consistency. The study team will use both descriptive and inferential statistical methods to assess results over time. This research aims to provide practical insights into how technology can support adults with disabilities in more independent, safer living situations. It may also inform broader applications of these systems in similar care contexts. The protocol was approved by an Ethics Committee (CET 130/24; FDG 28\_17/12/2024) and is in the data collection phase as of early 2025.