How is AI Revolutionizing Home Care for the Elderly?

Seniors aged 65 and above make up around 17% of the total population in the United States. This percentage of population is mainly because of the baby boomer generation.

When it comes to senior care, artificial intelligence has come into existence to mitigate the cost of caring for older adults.

AI (Artificial Intelligence) is the development and theory of computer systems that can perform tasks associated with human minds, such as problem-solving. In healthcare, AI is already improving many aspects of the home care industry. Some of these aspects  include empowering patients, adhering to care plans, detecting diseases, and even assisting in surgeries. This advancement is primarily because AI’s learning algorithms have become much more accurate and precise with their data interaction.

Uses of AI in Home Care

The growing elderly population is putting a strain on care resources. The need for elder care, chronic condition management, and long-term care is quite daunting as the population ages in large numbers.

AI is well-positioned to alleviate the upcoming staffing crisis in senior home care. In one example, using conversational AI devices helps engage seniors in personal conversations. Meaningful conversations are known to improve quality of life and mental health.

Studies show that 40% of older adults are using an automated tool for home care, proving that there’s aptitude and interest to harness the power of technology for augmenting care between visits.

AI technology can be used in home care environments in several ways. It helps improve the quality of care and address staff resourcing gaps, empowering seniors to age in place. Some ways in which AI-powered home care software helps foster quality care are:

• Digital Companionship:

  Loneliness makes room for the threat to older people’s health and well-being.

  A recent study showed that 46% of Americans feel alone in their home and community.

  – Cigna/Ipsos

  This problem is acute among older Americans; roughly 25 million people over 60 suffer from chronic loneliness, which is expected to grow to around 35 million by 2030.

  AI-powered chatbots are well-suited for addressing social isolation in home care environments. Using chatbots, seniors can use conversational voice assistants, advanced natural language processing algorithms, and smart speakers. Additionally, it provides emotional support and companionship to users. Even better, these digital companions may also collect information based on a person’s emotional system, like if they aren’t sleeping well, are in pain, or are depressed. This collection of information can help point to signs of more complex mental health conditions.

• Home Assistants:

  Studies show that around 37% of seniors in the U.S. live alone.

  – Pew Research Center

  Living alone does not only cause loneliness but also increases the risk of an emergency situation happening with no one around to monitor the senior in need. So virtual home assistants came into existence for people needing daily monitoring and assistance, including companionship.

  In-home caregivers use AI-based home care software like CareSmartz360 to assist seniors with activities of daily living, including grocery shopping, meal preparation, housekeeping, and others.

  Using home care technology, seniors can stay connected with their friends and family through video calls and receive reminder messages to take their prescription or to drink more water.

  AI technology helps seniors live more independently and gives families peace of mind by having regular updates and reminders with the use of AI.

• Smart Monitoring Systems:

  Caregivers can only be with their patients sometimes, which is why monitoring systems and smart hubs were developed. These solutions are similar to wearable technology, except these are installed in senior homes to ensure safety and wellness through remote monitoring.

  By using a smart home hub, you can use sensors for monitoring and alerting caregivers of unusual activities or subtle routine changes. For instance, with safety features in homes, seniors can automatically turn on the lights, change the thermostat, and lock doors.

  The ability to monitor seniors through security cameras and sensors reduces caregiver concern and allows seniors to live free and safe lives.

Final Thoughts

The future of home care technology is bright, and AI technology helps revolutionize how care is delivered across the globe.

The primary purpose here is to improve the users’ lives by giving them the care they need, allowing caregivers to deliver better service to seniors in need. The massive benefit of Ai is that it saves ever-increasing costs.

The predictions of continuously rising life expectancy and care expenditures also- an important consideration. The increasing pressure on care systems, taxpayers, and manufacturers call for solutions that AI can provide.

Related blog posts: