It is a well-known fact that developed countries are facing an aging population. Particularly in Western countries, large baby boomers are now or will soon join the aging population of our society. The impact of the significant increase in elderly care and the number of people in need of it is enormous. As with other challenges, there are many ways in which design can positively impact both quality of care and quality of life. An important element of quality of life is the desire to remain as independent as possible. To achieve this, we need to enable them to live independently with their safety, comfort and mental health in mind.
Today’s aging population groups are generally in better health than previous generations. This generation of boomers is also more technologically astute than previous generations, meaning they are more comfortable using sophisticated devices and applications. For this reason, advanced technological devices and systems can play a role in enabling an aging population to maintain a high quality of life, perhaps for longer than previous generations.
Design engineers play a critical role in identifying and devising technology solutions that are effective, accessible, and affordable.
Here we present several system solutions along with current challenges (representing opportunities for product and system improvements) to help older adults safely maintain a high quality of life.
Enabling older people to stay at home longer does not mean giving up their ability to support themselves. Smart home technology can monitor your home environment for safety and security, including detecting falls, monitoring vital signs, and warning of potential hazards such as fire or gas leaks. The challenge with current solutions on the market is that they are poorly integrated and may lack the functionality needed to ensure safety and health are not compromised.
You need an integrated system that is easy to package and set up. An adjacent paradigm is in the field of home security, where systems like SimpliSafe streamline the process of setting up and implementing home security. They also achieved this in a cost-effective manner. Such systems are designed to be easy to set up and manage right out of the box. It can be implemented even by people with limited technical knowledge or mechanical skills.
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Plus, robots can help too. If a potential problem is felt within the home, robots can be deployed remotely to locate seniors in the home, monitor vital signs, and even communicate with people outside the home. . A family member instructs the robot to “find mom” in the house using mapping of the home’s layout, looking for heat signatures of people in the house, and using video recognition to find mom. You can imagine a system that detects whether Sit on your bed, chair, or floor and strike up a conversation.
Technology can help seniors manage their medications more effectively by providing medication reminders, automatic refills, and tracking of medication schedules. Such systems still present challenges in that they must be loaded with appropriate drugs with dosing protocols. Current solutions still require human intervention to “stock” the system and program the protocols. Errors can occur due to human factors and can have devastating effects.
You need a solution that provides end-to-end support that includes:
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Inventory management of household medicines and supplements.
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Loading the dispensing system.
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Passive reminders for elderly people to take their medication.
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Communication in case of failure to take medication according to dosage requirements and timing. This includes communicating with parties outside the home, such as the pharmacy, carers, and family members.
These technologies can help older adults get the support they need to maintain their independence, stay connected, and stay safe and comfortable in their own homes. However, while optimal solutions can be easily conceived and created using current technology elements, cost and maintenance issues remain. Wealthier older adults may have the ability to purchase and deploy these technologies, but low-income individuals may have limited access to them unless health systems such as Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies support these technologies. It may be difficult to do.
Going forward, design and engineering professionals will need to evaluate costs and potential market size to determine the technology solutions and designs that make the most sense to support seniors who want to continue living in their homes.