ACRE is a robotic training device for rehabilitation of the upper limbs. ACRE stimulates patients to train their affected arm more frequently and repetitively, via so called game based therapy. A prototype of ACRE (ACRE2) was tested in a user trial with patients who had recently suffered a stroke. Therapists concluded that the ACRE can be useful in addition to the conventional training. After the first user trail specific technical improvements were suggested and realized in a new version of the robot (ACRE3) to increase safety, comfort and autonomous self-training. Patients and therapists experienced training with the ACRE arm pleasant and beneficial for recovery. Eventually, robot-mediated therapy may be applied instead of or in addition to one-to-one therapy and therapist-to-group therapy and may lead to a better rehabilitation. More research is needed especially on the cost-effectiveness of the ACRE in rehabilitation practice.

O r i g i n a l Mobiles for mobility: Participatory design of a 'Happy walker' that stimulates mobility among older peopleThe mobility of older adults is seen as a fundamental prerequisite for independent living and societal participation. We define mobility as going outdoors and travel to reach people and places, such as going for walks, visiting friends, shopping and attending cultural events. Being mobile leads to psychological benefits of going out, in particular reduction of feelings of loneliness and risk of depression 1 , exercise benefits to avoid muscle and bone deterioration 2 , inclusion in the local community to strengthen the social network and increase overall well-being 3 , and the empowering experience of knowing that one can (still) make a trip if one wanted to. These benefits promise to result in a better quality of life 1,4 , a better physical and psychological condition and societal cost reduction of long term care 5 .However, as people grow older their mobility decreases, due to changes in (i) demographic variables (e.g., changing traveling needs); (ii) physical and cognitive abilities (e.g., not being able to walk long distances, loss of memory or sense of orientation); and (iii) safety perception (feeling vulnerable and becoming more anxious to be on the street) 6,7 . Existing aids such as the Dial-a-Ride service 8 and products like (smart) walkers 9 , fall alarms 10 , hip protectors 11 , and electric mobility scooters 12 mainly focus on physical (walkers, mobility scooters) and incident support (fall alarms, alarm buttons). Although these products and services indeed support older adults to stay mobile, they do not sufficiently take into account demographic variables, cognitive abilities and safety perception. Moreover, current

The ACRE (ACtive REhabilitation) robotic device is developed to enhance therapeutic treatment of upper limbs after stroke. The aim of this study is to assess effects and costs of ACRE training for frail elderly patients and to establish if ACRE can be a valuable addition to standard therapy in nursing home rehabilitation. The study was designed as randomized controlled trial, one group receiving therapy as usual and the other receiving additional ACRE training. Changes in motor abilities, stroke impact, quality of life and emotional well-being were assessed. In total, 24 patients were included. In this small number no significant effects of the ACRE training were found. A large number of 136 patients were excluded. Main reasons for exclusion were lack of physiological or cognitive abilities. Further improvement of the ACRE can best be focused on making the system suitable for self-training and development of training software for activities of daily living.