Ageing with Confidence- FAITH’s Active Ageing pilot

An interview with Pilar Sala, Chief Innovation Officer at ACTIVAGE Association

Ageing with confidence means pairing compassionate care with privacy-first technology that quietly watches for risk and gives timely, understandable alerts to the people who matter most. FAITH’s Active Ageing pilot does exactly that, using non-intrusive home sensors and explainable AI to help older adults live safely at home while lightening the load on families and caregivers. To go deep into this concept, we talk with Pilar Sala, Chief Innovation Officer at Active Ageing Association and FAITH Active Ageing pilot leader, who shares insights into how this groundbreaking initiative is transforming home care through trustworthy technology.

In simple terms, what is FAITH’s Active Ageing pilot trying to achieve?
It’s a large-scale pilot that brings non-intrusive, privacy-preserving AI into real homes to spot changes in daily routines early and support ageing in place, without cameras, microphones or the need to wear a device. The goal is to empower older adults to maintain their independence while ensuring their safety through intelligent monitoring.

Why is this important for the Active Ageing Association’s day-to-day work?
The pilot strengthens ACTIVAGE’s mission by turning trustworthy AI into practical help with clear, explainable insights for timely decisions. It bridges the gap between cutting-edge technology and real-world care needs, making our work more effective and responsive.

How does the technology work behind the scenes?
Discreet infrared and door sensors are placed throughout the home, capturing simple activity patterns without intruding on privacy or dignity. Then, the AI layer continuously monitors daily routines, learning what’s normal for each individual resident over time. When unusual behaviour patterns emerge, such as prolonged inactivity or unusual nighttime movements, the system flags these deviations. Caregivers receive clear notifications that explain why an alert was raised, enabling confident, informed responses.

What kind of difference can families and caregivers expect to feel?
Families gain reassurance knowing that technology is watching over their loved ones, even when they cannot be physically present while older adults continue living in familiar surroundings with dignity, supported by invisible technology that respects their autonomy.

Where is the pilot running now, and how big is it?
The initial phase runs in Valencia with a target of 250 participants, building on a pre-pilot where 45 older adults and 90 caregivers are already using the solution, before expanding to additional Spanish regions in the replication phase with another 250 users.

Trust is crucial—how are privacy and ethics handled?
Trust is absolutely crucial when introducing technology into people’s homes. The FAITH project takes privacy and ethical considerations seriously, implementing multiple layers of protection and oversight. In the case of our pilot, no audio or video is used; the data collected and processed are pseudonymised and encrypted. Participants are provided with a clear and accsesible consent, our Data Protection Officer oversees compliance, and we have secured the ethics approval from an official Ethics Committee.

What’s coming next as the project scales?
As the FAITH Active Ageing pilot scales, several exciting developments are on the horizon. The project will integrate FAITH’s comprehensive trustworthiness tools, creating an even more robust and reliable system. Models will be continuously refined based on real-world feedback from participants and caregivers, ensuring the technology evolves to meet genuine needs. Growth across multiple locations over the project’s duration will validate both the impact and readiness for wider adoption. This expansion isn’t just about numbers—it’s about proving that trustworthy AI can truly transform home care at scale, making independent living safer and more sustainable for older adults across diverse communities. The FAITH Active Ageing pilot represents a new chapter in elder care—one where technology respects dignity, families find peace of mind, and older adults maintain the independence they cherish. Through thoughtful design, rigorous ethics, and realworld validation, this initiative is proving that ageing with confidence isn’t just an aspiration, it’s an achievable reality