Ageing In Place – Connected Care

In the UK, the idea of “ageing in place,” or enabling people to live freely in their own homes as they age, is becoming more and more popular. The implementation of Connected Care home technologies is essential to bringing this idea to life. In this article we examine connected care in people’s homes for ageing in place from a UK viewpoint, as well as the advantages they provide and how they are influencing senior care in the future.

Enhanced Safety and Security
Seniors might feel safer and more secure with the help of connected care technologies. Smart doorbells equipped with motion sensors, door/window sensors and touchless fall detection sensors are just some of the examples of devices that can notify carers and residents of an unexpected activity or any security risks through intelligent platforms like AVERio.

Fall Detection and Prevention
Non wearable technology can recognise falls or abrupt movements and notify care teams or family members swiftly. This technology has a critical role in lowering the risk of falls-related injuries among the older population.

Remote Monitoring
Using a robust connected care platform, family members and healthcare professionals can remotely monitor a person’s wellbeing. Care teams can receive notifications about emerging changes in behaviour which might be an indication of a change in an underlying health condition, such as a developing UTI.

Home Automation & Assisted Living
People with mobility or dexterity concerns can improve accessibility within their home with the help of smart home automation systems, which can be configured to regulate lighting, heating, and other tasks. Integrating home automation and care monitoring into a single platform such as AVERio can significantly improve people’s quality of life and improve their independence.

Aging in Place and the NHS
The NHS acknowledges that smart homes can support ageing in place. By lowering hospital stays and A&E visits, the NHS can save money by incorporating smart home technologies into healthcare programmes and the wider health & social care system.

Obstacles and Things to Think About
Privacy and Data Security: When putting smart home technology into practice, safeguarding people’s privacy and making sure data is secure are top priorities. Providers of connected care platforms need to ensure systems and processes are built in a robust, secure and scalable way.

Cost
For some individuals, the upfront cost of some connected care solutions may be a barrier. The cost of connected care technologies is constantly changing and in most cases it is reducing gradually over time. Some simple wellbeing solutions can now be sourced for as little as £50 up front.

Adoption
Whilst connected care technology isn’t particularly new, it can be disruptive to people to introduce new technology and sensors into people’s home. It’s crucial that providers work to bring modern, aesthetically pleasing equipment to market that can be installed discreetly into homes.

Interoperability
A seamless user experience depends on the capacity of various systems and devices to communicate with one another. Modern systems use industry standard APIs and have the ability to integrate seamlessly, improving adoption amongst care teams and reducing change barriers.

To sum up, connected care for ageing in place is becoming more popular in the UK as a way to help people live better lives and deal with the issues associated with an ageing population. With the help of connected care platforms, people can live more independently and stay in their own home for longer.