Background
Ageing in place has recently gained visibility in healthcare policies and services. Technology has the potential to facilitate independence at home. The objective of this systematic review is to identify technologies that have been rigorously evaluated for supporting the ageing in place of healthy older adults. As well we explored the methods in engagement with technology in healthy older adults.
Methods
Databases Pubmed, Scopus, PsycInfo and Cinahl were consulted for clinical controlled trials or randomised controlled trials between 2014 and 2019. Studies were included if they contained a technological intervention and focussed on supporting healthy older adults’ independent living. PRISMA guidelines and the risk of bias tool of the Cochrane Collaboration were applied.
Results
The search identified 3662 articles of which only 7 made the final analysis. Through narrative analysis, technologies were categorised into three groups: accessible communication, emergency assistance and physical and mental well-being. Patient-centredness was extensively addressed by exploring how the participants engaged in the development and evaluation of the technology and how they were trained and monitored.
Conclusions
Literature concerning technology to support ageing, based on controlled trials and research performed in authentic home situations, is scarce. Thus, there is a need to investigate the subject in depth. The use of a neurofeedback headband, an accessible computer system, a wristband with pedometer, a biofeedback device and an online video platform can bring added value to ageing in place for healthy older adults. A patient-centred approach for developing, implementing and evaluating technology benefits ageing in place.
Abstract.Healthcare services are in need of new tools and gadgets that could provide surveillance and people interaction of the needed ones with their surrounding environment. In order to address this problematic, an autonomous-interactive surveillance robot system is proposed in this research. RHINO (Robotic-Human Interface for the Needed Ones) was designed under particular normative and will provide commonly needed features in the healthcare field. One of the principal aspects of the device is its particular design which allows the patient to have some privacy under a surveilled environment and without causing any interference in their daily lives. Another main factor is the ability of notifying the care provider or the family of the patient with e-mail or text-sms notifications in case of abnormal activities; so that video access by provider or Skype calls by family relatives could be performed throughout RHINO.
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