An effectiveness and cost-estimation model for deploying assistive technology solutions in elderly care

Abbreviations: ADL, Activities of Daily Living; HSR, The Human Support Robot; IADL, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living; ISEE, The Independent School Entrance Exam; QoL, Quality of Life; SD, System Dynamics

ABSTRACT

Background

Deployment of modern assistive technologies is one of the major trends. The main objective is the provisioning of the effectiveness and cost-estimation model for deploying assistive technology solutions in elderly care intended for evaluation and showing specificity to the costs and associated benefits of providing smart technological solutions for seniors.

Methods

The model uses demographic projections taken from Eurostat for EU countries and the disability incidence from the annual report of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic as an input. The model was implemented in the software Stella Professional dedicated to system dynamics modelling.

Results

In relation to the combination of five assistive devices for the elderly the optimal solution the cost savings are 37.8% or182 billion CZK, cumulatively in the simulated time period 2021–2060. The model allows adjustments regarding price levels of various countries through the caregivers’ wage. Obtained results showed robustness of the model to this uncertainty as percentage savings varied only from 37.6% to 39.8%, a mere 2.2% difference.

Conclusion

With respect to the ongoing demographic transition, the need to employ smart device solutions should further increase and their price could decline. The highest savings will come from countries with higher wages for carers.

KEYWORDS:

• Assistive technology
• savings
• activities of daily living
• model
• costs
• efficiency

Acknowledgements

PM collected analyzed and interpreted data of elderly, PM, SB, JBH suggested design of the study were contributors in writing also. LR and PB prepared model. OF and OE made a major contribution in writing the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. We thank also Matyáš Kračmar for his help with data collection and model preparation for this study.

Data availability statement

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work is supported in part by the LTC INTER COST, Evaluation of the Potential for Reducing Health and Social Expenses for Elderly People Using the Smart Environment, through the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Czech Republic, under Project LTC18035; and in part by the project of Excellence and SPEV, University of Hradec Kralove, FIM, Czech Republic.

Notes on contributors

Petra Maresova

Petra Maresova is an Associate Professor at the University of Hradec Kralove. Her work is focused on the business economics and health economics, aging population, socio-economics impact of care of people with dementia. She also solved question related to innovation, new technologies or medical devices as possible solutions for future savings for public sector in area of social and healthcare.

Lukáš Režný

Lukas Rezny is an Assistant professor of the Department of Economics at the University of Hradec Kralove. He received a PhD in Information and knowledge management from the University of Hradec Kralove. His research focuses on the Energy-Economy Nexus with the use of System dynamics modelling method and issues regarding sustainability metrics and measurement.

Petr Bauer

Petr Bauer is an Assistant professor in the field of Mathematical modelling and numerical simulation at the University of Hradec Kralove. He received both his master and doctoral degrees at the Czech technical university in Prague, Faculty of nuclear sciences and physical engineering. His research is focused on development and verification of mathematical models, numerical solvers for systems of differential equations.

Oluwaseun Fadeyi

Oluwaseun Fadeyi is a doctoral candidate in the field of environmental management at the University of Free State, South Africa. He received his first degree in applied geophysics at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, and a master’s in environmental monitoring and pollution assessment at the University of Trier in Germany. His research is focused on climate change studies, sustainability, adaptive capacity, environmental health impacts.

Olaniyi Eniayewu

Olaniyi Eniayewu is a medical doctor and a public health expert with vast experience in community health care settings. He received his MBBS from the Lugansk State Medical University in Ukraine and a Master of Public Health from Swansea University, UK. Amongst other courses to solidify his intent on the provision of quality health care services to the grassroots (communities).

Sabina Barakovic

Sabina Barakovic is currently an Associate Professor with the University of Sarajevo. Her research interests include multidimensional QoE modelling of multimedia, mobile Web-based applications and unified communications, QoS/QoE/QoL management, cybersecurity in smart environments, and the IoT/WoT.

Jasmina Barakovic Husic

Jasmina Barakovic Husic is a Full Professor with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Sarajevo. Her research interests include a variety of topics in networked multimedia services, QoS/QoE/QoL management, and 5G-IoT communications.