Innovation in social services: regional development through IHA

Abstract

Regional development in an era of dynamic social and economic change and demographic predictions faces the challenge of responding effectively to the needs of an aging population, increasing inequality in access to care, and demands for individualized services. Social services, as an integral component of regional care systems, play a key role not only in ensuring the quality of life for vulnerable groups but also in supporting social cohesion and economic resilience across regions. This paper focuses on the importance of technological innovations in the social services system, with an emphasis on their regional dimension. An empirical example is the implementation of the IHA (Intelligent Home Assistant) service in the Trenčín Region, which supports seniors’ autonomy, reduces the risk of hospitalizations, reduces pressure on social service facilities, and contributes to public cost savings. The introduction of such solutions also stimulates regional cooperation between local government, social service providers, and the community. The paper highlights the challenges associated with digital inclusion, infrastructure limitations, and ethical aspects of technology implementation. The results suggest that the synergy of technology, community ties, and public policies may be the key to sustainable and innovative regional development.