TY - JOUR
T1 - Smart homes
T2 - pioneering age-friendly environments in China for enhanced health and quality of life
AU - Shafei, Angie
AU - Khadka, Jyoti
AU - Balasubramanian, Madhan
PY - 2024/5/17
Y1 - 2024/5/17
N2 - Traditionally, China has been more reliant on a model of care that ensures older adults are cared for by family members. Whilst promoting the idea of older adults ageing in their own homes is essential, the provision of in-home care must shift from primarily relying on family caregivers to a model that places greater emphasis on gerontechnologies and enhanced healthcare service delivery. In this perspective article we argue for the adoption of a ‘smart home’ model in aged care in China. The smart home model argues for innovative technologies to older adult care, such as virtual support groups, video-conferencing, and electronic health records; assistive technologies that can safely maintain independence and assist with daily living such as sensors, wearables, telehealth, smart home technologies as well as interactive robotic technologies for mobility and cognitive support such as humanoid robots, rehabilitation robots, service/companion robots. The adoption and implementation of gerontechnologies have been slow, with only a handful of solutions demonstrating proven effectiveness in supporting home care. The utilisation of such digital technologies to support and enable older adults in China to age-in-place can bring a significant contribution to healthy ageing. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to focus on co-creating with end-users, incorporating their values and preferences, and enhancing training to boost the adoption of these gerontechnologies. Through a smart home model of care, China can age-in-place more effectively, leading to significant contributions to healthy ageing.
AB - Traditionally, China has been more reliant on a model of care that ensures older adults are cared for by family members. Whilst promoting the idea of older adults ageing in their own homes is essential, the provision of in-home care must shift from primarily relying on family caregivers to a model that places greater emphasis on gerontechnologies and enhanced healthcare service delivery. In this perspective article we argue for the adoption of a ‘smart home’ model in aged care in China. The smart home model argues for innovative technologies to older adult care, such as virtual support groups, video-conferencing, and electronic health records; assistive technologies that can safely maintain independence and assist with daily living such as sensors, wearables, telehealth, smart home technologies as well as interactive robotic technologies for mobility and cognitive support such as humanoid robots, rehabilitation robots, service/companion robots. The adoption and implementation of gerontechnologies have been slow, with only a handful of solutions demonstrating proven effectiveness in supporting home care. The utilisation of such digital technologies to support and enable older adults in China to age-in-place can bring a significant contribution to healthy ageing. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to focus on co-creating with end-users, incorporating their values and preferences, and enhancing training to boost the adoption of these gerontechnologies. Through a smart home model of care, China can age-in-place more effectively, leading to significant contributions to healthy ageing.
KW - older adults
KW - housing
KW - in-home care
KW - China
KW - quality of life
KW - ageing
KW - home care
KW - models of care
KW - gerontechnologies
KW - smart home
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85195003814&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1346963
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1346963
M3 - Comment/debate
SN - 2296-2565
VL - 12
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
JF - Frontiers in Public Health
M1 - 1346963
ER -