An Ageing-in-Place Service Innovation Model by Using TRIZ Methodology Chi-Kuang Chen, 1 An-Jin Shie, 1 Kuo-Ming Wang, 1 and Chang-Hsi Yu 2 1 Department of Industrial Engineering & Management, Yuan Ze University, Taiwan 2 Department of Business Administration, Yu Da University, Taiwan Abstract Most of the research on the concept of “ageing-in-place” has focused on surveys of the needs of senior citizens and/or the quality of the services delivered to them. Service innovation for ageing-in-place has received little research attention, however. The present study addresses this issue by proposing a service innovation model for ageing-in-place. In this model, a TRIZ methodology is used to develop the parameter correspondence table, which integrates TRIZ contradiction parameters and ageing-in- place service-quality determinants, to deal with service contradiction. A TRIZ contradiction matrix is then applied to generate inventive solutions for the innovation of the ageing-in-place service system. A case study is also conducted to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model. C  2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Keywords: Service innovation; Ageing-in-place; Home care; TRIZ; Contradiction matrix 1. INTRODUCTION Advances in medical care and public health have meant that people are living longer, which has resulted in ev- ery developed country in the world facing significant difficulties in coping with the accommodation and so- cial needs of an increasingly older population. In re- sponse to these demographic problems, various strate- gies have been suggested to facilitate independent living by senior citizens, preferably in their own homes (Birn- baum, Burke, Swearingen, & Dunlop, 1984; Fashimpar, 1983). One such strategy is the concept of “ageing-in- place,” which is a diversified care model first proposed in the 1960s to deal with the issues of an ageing pop- Correspondence to: Chi-Kuang Chen, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Yuan Ze University, 135 Yuan-Tung Road, Chung-Li 320, Taiwan, ROC. Phone: 886-3-4638800 ext. 2528; e-mail: ieckchen@saturn.yzu.edu.tw Received: 4 April 2012; revised 20 May 2012; accepted 12 September 2012 View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/hfm DOI: 10.1002/hfm.20536 ulation. The aim of ageing-in-place is to provide ap- propriate care for senior citizens in their local area by integrating the services of nursing homes, community- care agencies, and home-care agencies (Birnbaum et al., 1984; Kane, 1995; Wu & Chuang, 2001). In doing so, the strategy takes into account the preference of many senior citizens to maintain their independence, dignity, and quality of life by having appropriate care services delivered to their own homes or to nearby community centers and nursing homes (Cutchin, 2003; Francis & Netten, 2004; Gilleard, Hyde, & Higgs, 2007; Palley, 2003). A review of the relevant literature reveals that the ageing-in-place strategy has been implemented through three main service-delivery models: (i) institution-care services; (ii) community-care services; and (iii) home-care services (Chapin & Dobbs-Kepper, 2001; Cohen-Mansfield & Frank, 2008; Cutchin, 2003; Hawes, Phillips, Rose, Holan, & Sherman, 2003; Marek & Rantz, 2000; Stone & Reinhard, 2007; Wu & Chuang, 2001). The first of these models, the institution-care ser- vice model, provides care services for senior citizens in the context of institutions (such as hospitals and/or 166 Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing & Service Industries 25 (2) 166–182 (2015) c  2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.