Current concepts for technology allowing independent and active living for elderly people

In an ageing society, there is a huge need for ways to allow elderly people an independent yet active life. Fewer people have time to care for their relatives and the nursing staff available is on a decrease as well. In face of the demographic changes, this challenge is certain to increase in the future. This paper aims at describing several concepts for seamless integration of ambient assisted living (AAL) technologies, ranging from unobtrusive detection of vital parameters to active service robots. The principal idea is to develop solutions in a modular manner for personalised yet cost-effective installation. Depending on the specific needs, these solutions are combined to a smart home environment for the elderly. The usability and acceptance of several concepts tested on female and male subjects are also discussed in the paper.     «

In an ageing society, there is a huge need for ways to allow elderly people an independent yet active life. Fewer people have time to care for their relatives and the nursing staff available is on a decrease as well. In face of the demographic changes, this challenge is certain to increase in the future. This paper aims at describing several concepts for seamless integration of ambient assisted living (AAL) technologies, ranging from unobtrusive detection of vital parameters to active service ro...     »