EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN HEALTHCARE AGING POPULATION NEEDS

Emerging Technologies in Healthcare Aging Population Needs

Emerging Technologies in Healthcare Aging Population Needs

Introduction

In the 21st century, our living is inseparable from digital and computing technologies. In design, researchers and practitioners have shown an increasing interest in predicting and examining the effect of these technologies in transforming our everyday life and surroundings. In this paper we design a technology in Healthcare for Aging Population.

Project brief

The main aim of the project will be centered at the use of innovative and emerging technologies to help meet the healthcare and quality of life needs of an aging population. It is a general perception that an increased reliance and use of emerging technology tools enables to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the healthcare industry and ultimately builds faster communication new caregiver support networks and assist seniors with their activities of daily living. As for example by placing “invisible” sensors in strategic locations around the home, a family or professional caregiver could monitor remotely the activities and status of a senior living alone or in an assisted living or residential care facility.

Research

Technologies such as telehealth systems can be used by seniors and their families to take daily vital signs at home or on the road. These measurements can then be downloaded automatically over a phone line, through cable or wireless connections to a secure web site so that seniors, families and professional healthcare staff can better manage chronic disease conditions and be alerted more timely to potential health issues before they become a crisis (Aleahmad, 2002, pp 45-90). Physicians and family members with a consumer's approval would be notified anytime a reading is taken that is outside the parameters established. In early applications these systems have been proven to significantly reduce the frequency and severity of repeated healthcare episodes.

Furthermore, adding emerging video technology to these systems would allow seniors to communicate “face-toface” with their family, medical sources and caregivers on a routine basis facilitating better care, promoting social interaction and improving safety. However to be effective, there needs to be a high level of physician buy in to telehealth applications. This will probably not develop until physicians become actively involved with key paying organizations to develop new funding approaches that recognize that physicians and other healthcare sources will need to be paid for monitoring patients and not just for physical visits (Burdick and Kwon, 2004, pp 23-67).

Moving forward just a few years, we see a number of technologies in development and being integrated into systems that will assist seniors with their activities of daily living, such as “smart” cars to help people drive more safely, “smart” wheelchairs that climb stairs and “smart” walkers to help seniors find their way to the grocery store or a friend's house. With Alzheimer's disease and dementia related conditions reaching epidemic proportions, new technologies will provide assistance at early stages to help people with dementia continue to function and remain independent for longer periods of ...