Reducing the distance in distance-caregiving by technology innovation

Figures & data

Table 1 Factors influencing geographic distance between elders and family members

Relative ease of travel facilitates family visits from distant sites

Elders retire to locations remote from their original family residence and support systems

For social and/or economic reasons, elders choose to remain in their home rather than following other family members to new locations

Adult children move from location of original family residence for educational and/or work requirements or opportunities

Adult children form relationships with significant others and relocate to form new family constellation

Table 2 Selected core technologies and their capabilities

Core technology	Capabilities
Technology	Values to aging in place
Wireless broadband	Anywhere in the home, any device connectivity Rich and multiple streams of health information delivery
Biosensors and bodily diagnostics	Real-time, routine chemical analysis Targeted drug delivery and effects analysis
Activity sensors and behavioral diagnostics	Location, object, and person tracking around the home Regular activity and activities of daily living measurement and assessment
Information fusion and inference engines	Personal baselines and alerts to meaningful deviations Reliable data even from temperamental technologies
Personal health informatics	Central repository for personal and professional health information Tools for easy visualization of long-term trends
Ambient displays and actuator networks	Lightweight ways to notice “okayness” of loved ones Smart home controls of all devices and appliances
Agents, assistants, coaches, companions	Reminding and coaching of activities of daily living that are declining Companionship for intellectual stimulus and support
Adaptive, distributed interfaces	Any device interactivity—do not have to use a personal computer to compute Interface experience personalized for familiarity and function
Remote community and collaboration	Multiple modes and media for communicating across distance Ways of representing and feeling “presence” at lonely times

Reprinted with permission from National Academy of Sciences, Copyright © 2004. Dishman E, Matthews J, Dunbar-Jacob J. 2004. Everyday health: Technology for adaptive aging. In: Pew R, Van Hemel S (eds). Technology for adaptive aging. Washington, DC: National Academies Pr, pp. 179–208.

DishmanEMatthewsJDunbar-JacobJ2004Everyday health: Technology for adaptive agingPewRVan HemelSTechnology for adaptive agingWashington, DCNational Academies Pr179208

 Google Scholar