User Interaction Concepts in Smart Caring Homes for Elderly with Chronic Conditions

Abstract

Abstract. This article addresses the design and implementation of user interaction concepts for smart caring homes. Elderly suffering from age related frailty or chronic diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and mild dementia are the targeted primary users. Their informal and formal caregivers are regarded as secondary users. The current smart home approach to user interaction is either too intrusive or too unobtrusive. This article proposes an alternative that implements both concepts in complementary interaction paradigms, using multiple types of feedback devices.

A Simple Framework of Smart Geriatric Nursing considering Health Big Data and User Profile

“…Smart geriatric nursing for physical health should be based on IoT technologies. In detail, the smart nursing strategies include but should be not limited to the following: Biosensor-based real-time monitoring and remote management of geriatric physical activities and vital signs [ 28 – 31 ] Medication safety and management with smart technologies including RFID, sensor, electronic tag, two-dimension code, and global positioning system (GPS) [ 32 – 36 ] Smart assessment of geriatric cognitive function with online and offline methods [ 37 – 40 ], e.g., estimating the influence of healthy lifestyle on episodic memory among adults who have subjective memory complaints [ 40 ] Smart nursing methods for geriatric common and chronic diseases [ 41 – 43 ] …”

Active and pleasant ageing supported by technology

“…The area of Smart-Homes is another technology that is increasingly being used to support Active Ageing and independent living. The European Funded FP7 project eWALL is an example of a smart home environment designed and developed having in mind the needs of older adults with chronic diseases or suffering from age-related impairments 132 . eWALL combines wearables and environmental sensing to infer the health status of the user at any moment, and supports the user in achieving a healthy lifestyle by providing feedback and coaching on a large touch screen, as shown in Figure 4.…”