The increase in the number of very old people and the difficulties societies face in adapting to these demographic changes, has been a public health issue for the past few decades. The increasing demographic weight of the elderly requires that this population be taken into account in programmes promoting well-being and health. The effects of ageing remain inevitable, such as loss of mobility, cardiovascular risks, and other age-related diseases and conditions, not to mention isolation.
Connected Health and Silver-éco
In France, many companies offer innovative solutions to improve the health and well-being of our seniors. If new technologies and connected objects seem to be the best solution, they still need to be adapted to this not very technophile target.
Utilisator experience
The challenge for tech companies that address the silver economy is to know how to adapt. This target group is not used to using new technologies and is not always able to understand all the ins and outs. Interfaces, ergonomics, functionalities… everything has to be rethought and redesigned, forgetting the basic rules. The objective is to facilitate and simplify the senior experience.
Some websites have understood the importance of this adaptation. HAkisa is a web platform that aims to create a link between senior citizens and their relatives and/or socio-medical staff. This site has been designed on the principle of “one button one action”.
Shelves are also an excellent way to promote contact with the outside world because they are easy to handle. Facilotab is an example, it has an ergonomics adapted to seniors, with an interface offering great possibilities (downloading applications, surfing on a secure web) navigating intuitively for our seniors has never been so easy.
Image of Facilotab from facilotab.com
The news means of communication
The Viktor cushion that was developed by the start ‘up Niçoise Fingertips is a perfect example of a connected object that facilitates communication between seniors. It’s a smart cushion packed with technology that offers a dozen functions: making video calls to see family, receiving photos, listening to music, and an emergency button to contact loved ones. So many functions in an easy to use, simple and discreet object.
Technology doesn’t just reside in connected applications or objects, it can also move around and talk to you. And yes, the era of silver-eco robots has arrived, you’re not dreaming. It is a French company Robosfot which markets this kind of special companion. The prototype KOMPAÏ 2 (semi-humanoid robot) has as main objective to assist, help and entertain.
( On your right an image of the first version of KOMPAÏ from the website Silvereco )
E-Health
You probably know home automation, those intelligent houses that we can control remotely and that alert us at any time. There is now home medicine. It is a more advanced form of intelligent houses that will not only link connected objects but will also be able to establish health check-ups. Equipped with numerous sensors from floor to ceiling, the house can detect falls, measure blood sugar and blood pressure, contact the emergency services and keep your health record up to date. The Plural Novilia agency has launched this project called Konekti in Champagne Ardennes. Two homes built at the end of 2017 have enabled the first tests to be carried out in the context of home care for dependent people.
Fall's detection glasses of Ellcie Healthy
You may not know it, but falling is the leading cause of death among seniors. In France, every year, more than 400,000 people die as a result of a fall.
A fall is a major event in the life of an elderly person. Faced with the fear of institutionalization, falls are often overlooked, especially when there have been no witnesses or visible injuries. The fear of relapse encourages the adoption of an even more sedentary lifestyle leading to social isolation and a significant decrease in quality of life.
The “Fall Detection” function is intended for all people at risk of falling: the elderly, people with chronic illnesses (diabetes, etc.), isolated workers, sportsmen and women, etc. Thanks to sensors embedded in the connected glasses, if a fall is detected, an alert signal is sent to relatives and/or a telephone assistance platform. If the fall is confirmed, or if the person does not respond, the emergency services are sent.
Main features :
- Automatic detection of sudden, soft falls thanks to the sensors in the glasses.
- Manually triggering an alert from the mobile application
- A countdown timer allows an alarm to be cancelled within 30 seconds to minimize the risk of false alarms, or cancel the intervention if the user does not need help.
- Automatic alert to the contacts (close, caregiver, on-call) informed for a quick response. Relayed by a support telephone platform if not supported by the contacts
Smart connected frames are a concentrate of technologies from a hardware point of view, but also from a software point of view. Just like a smartphone, connected frames will be enriched with new features as software updates become available.
In conclusion, all these new technologies have a preventive role and simplify certain mechanisms. This is particularly the case for helper-helper communication, day-to-day assistance to senior citizens and the strengthening of intergenerational links. Finally, one of the most important aspects of these innovations is to establish a health monitoring system that makes it possible to anticipate certain risks or to prevent them at the right time?
Sources
. https://www.senioractu.com/Hakisa-une-plate-forme-web-pour-personnes-agees_a18210.html
. https://www.rtl.fr/actu/futur/viktor-le-coussin-connecte-qui-vous-relie-a-vos-proches-7800124413
https://www.vivrefm.com/posts/2015/10/des-maisons-connectees-pour-les-personnes-dependantes/
https://www.objetconnecte.com/silver-economy-startup/
https://www.silvereco.fr/kampai-le-robot-dassistance-laureat-du-concours-mondial-dinnovation/3150893