Advanced technology care innovation for older people in Italy: necessity and opportunity to promote health and wellbeing.
Even though there is a constant and accelerating growth of the aging population worldwide, such a rapid rise is negatively impacting available home and community services not able to encompass the necessities associated with the increased number of older people. In particular, there are increasing demands on e-health care services and smart technologies needed for frail elders with chronic diseases and also for those experiencing active aging. Advanced Technology Care Innovation for older persons encompasses all sectors (assistive technology, robotics, home automation, and home care- and institution-based healthcare monitoring, telemedicine) dedicated to promoting health and wellbeing in all types of living environments. Considering that there is a large concern and demand by older persons to remain in familiar social living surroundings, study projects joined with industries have been currently initiated, especially across Europe to improve health and wellbeing. This article will highlight the latest updates in Europe and, in particular in Italy, regarding scientific projects dedicated to unraveling how diverse needs can be translated into an up-to-date technology innovation for the growing elder population. We will provide information regarding advanced technology designed for those with specific geriatric-correlated conditions in familiar living settings and for individuals aging actively. This is an important action because numerous emerging developments are based on user needs identified by geriatricians, thus, underlining the indispensable role of geriatric medicine toward future guidelines on specific technology.
Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Scientific Direction, Ancona, Italy.
Fabrizia
F
Lattanzio
Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Scientific Direction, Ancona, Italy. Electronic address: angela_abbatecola@yahoo.com.
Angela M
AM
Abbatecola
Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Scientific Direction, Ancona, Italy.
Roberta
R
Bevilacqua
Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Scientific Direction, Ancona, Italy.
Carlos
C
Chiatti
Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Unit of Geriatric Pharmacoepidemiology, Research Hospital of Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy.
Andrea
A
Corsonello
Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Lab. Bioinformatica, Bioingegneria e Domotica, Ancona, Italy.
Lorena
L
Rossi
Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Scientific Direction, Ancona, Italy.
Silvia
S
Bustacchini
Department of Geriatrics, Centro Medicina dell'Invecchiamento, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
Roberto
R
Bernabei
D000368:Aged; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D058998:Remote Sensing Technology / Q000295:instrumentation; D012371:Robotics; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000295:instrumentation*
Elderly; home automation; home care- and institution-based healthcare monitoring; robotics