Seniors and caregivers demand smart monitoring to age safely at home
Older Australians have said they would welcome government-funded smart technology into their homes, particularly for fall detection.
A survey of 1,000 older Australians and their carers found seniors would happily accept government-funded smart technology in their homes, particularly if it allows them to age in place without requiring care.
More than half would even make a small monthly financial contribution, particularly for technology to detect falls and other emergencies.
The survey results were released today (November 22) at the NSW Smart Sensing Network’s third annual Aging Forum.
“A large number of older people and carers in the survey considered technology-assisted home care to be attractive to themselves or the person they care for, believing it would improve safety, “independence and their ability to live at home for longer,” Professor Jason Prior of the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures said in a statement.
“But at the same time, their acceptance of technology-assisted home care is nuanced, with varying levels of engagement and some reservations and caution. Although technology-assisted care was valued by many participants for emergencies and to prolong independent living, privacy concerns were also evident to many. Although the cost of these technologies was a concern for many participants, many also indicated that they were willing to pay varying amounts for these technologies.
The number of people aged over 65 in Australia is expected to double by 2057, posing a challenge to the aged care sector. Recent government reforms will add more home care modalities, which respondents said could be used to fund smart monitoring technology.
“In caring for our aging population, sensor-driven alert systems powered by AI and data have the potential to significantly reduce fall incidents among frail and elderly people, particularly during the night” , said Catherine Oates Smith, NSSN human health manager.
“These systems can generate both preventative and emergency alerts, complementing the care provided to older adults, and can also integrate telehealth services. This ecosystem approach helps ease the burden on caregivers by reducing the need for frequent in-person check-ins, allowing older adults to remain safe in their homes – whatever “home” means to them – while reducing pressure on our busy hospitals.
