Smart Home with Healthcare Technologies for Community-Dwelling Older Adults
R. Machiko, Senator Linda, Ramalingam Sridhar, Bruce J. Naughton M. · InTech eBooks · 2010
Although the constant external monitoring (by others) feature of SH is useful for frail elders in assisted living facilities and nursing homes, it is not likely to be accepted by, and available for the majority of older adults who live in their own homes. Inexpensive SH technologies that can be used for the purpose of self-monitoring of safety, health, and functional status in existing homes are urgently required. The role of these technologies is to empower older adults for self-management for independent living and to minimize adverse effects on their caregivers’ stress. The built-in warning system based on readings/reports collected by SH with healthcare technologies should send automatic alarms to self, caregivers, healthcare providers, and/or a fire department. The possibility of these SH with healthcare technologies is bountiful, but the research on its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness should be conducted concurrently, as they develop.