How AI is Helping Older Adults Stay Independent
Quick Terms to Know
AI – Artificial intelligence
Aging in Place – Living at home independently as one grows older
Smart devices – A connected device that can interact and act autonomously
Wearable – A wearable device, typically one that monitors health
Aging is changing.
Artificial intelligence, or AI, has rapidly emerged as a hallmark of smart appliances, wearable devices, and other technologies that are helping older adults stay independent for longer. The fast-growing field of aging technology, or agetech, promises to make aging easier with assistive technologies that do everything from monitoring health to making it easier for older adults to accomplish daily tasks.
Here’s an overview of some of the technologies that are making life easier for older adults, and how AI could change the reality of aging as we know it.
The Rise Artificial Intelligence in Elder Care
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping daily life for everyone. That includes older adults.
Every other technology for aging adults in some way incorporates AI. Smart appliances use AI to learn about their users’ preferences. Wearable devices incorporate AI learning to understand their wearers’ health.
AI can help address both physical and mental health challenges in older adults through active monitoring, according to an article published in the online medical journal Cureus. That can even extend to social interaction: DreamFace’s robot “Ryan,” for instance, is designed to interact with older adults and engage them with games and trivia.
AI also has potential to combat loneliness both through its interactivity and as an assistant, according to the National Council on Aging. It can serve as a guide for older adults in embracing the internet and other social technologies, and help them to connect with their friends and family over long distances.
AI for Aging in Place
Aging in place has long been a dream for many older adults, and emerging technologies are helping make that a reality.
Aging in place means staying in your own home and remaining independent, according to the National Institute on Aging. A key part of aging in place is making sure your home is safe and accessible, and smart home technology can help address that challenge.
Smart home technology covers generally focuses on either safety or convenience. Security-focused technologies like doorbell cameras and digital locks can be accessed by both aging adults and their caregivers, meaning homes are both secure and accessible.
Many smart appliances have built-in safety sensors, like ovens and stovetops that automatically shut themselves off or thermostats that can detect when someone is home and adjust the temperature accordingly, or send out alerts at dangerous temperatures.
Some are even built to help detect health issues, like toilet bowl sensors that check for blood and other health metrics. Those also cover convenience with features like automatic flushing.
Smart lighting can be voice activated or set on a schedule to boost accessibility. Smart lighting also extends to shutters, which can be set to automatically open or close depending on the time of day.
Home assistants like Alexa can be used to connect various smart devices with simple, real-time voice commands.
The AARP notes that cost can be a barrier to smart home devices. While smart appliances have been getting more affordable in recent years, devices like smart mattresses and refrigerators remain costly. Those technologies do more than just provide aging adults with a convenience and security: The AARP also says that they can detect patterns and alert caregivers when something is off.
AI for Monitoring Health
Wearable devices for older adults have been around for decades. Think hearing aides and the long-running “help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” commercials. But wearable devices are changing, and are now critical to helping older adults stay independent.
In the next five to ten years, at least half of people over the age of 60 will use wearable devices, according to ScienceSoft. Many of those wearable technologies focus on monitoring health and alerting caregivers or emergency medical services if something’s wrong.
Advanced AI learning and detection software can also mean that wearables detect medical emergencies before they happen, according to ScienceSoft. Even general wearable technologies like Apple Watches are equipped with health monitoring software that can detect issues like an irregular or elevated resting heart rate.
Wearable technologies do more than just monitor health: They can also promote healthy lifestyles. Wearables like Fitbits and Apple Watches actively encourage activities like walking, standing, and exercise and help their wearers track their progress.