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next-level health: aging at home – can our parents be techy?

in a world where nursing homes are becoming more expensive and more isolating for our loved ones, some people are turning to technology to keep them safer and closer to us.

by andrew haller, phd, founder of healthstorecanada
published jul 29, 2024
read time 6 minute read
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read time 6 minute read
join the conversation
in canada, 85 per cent of seniors would like to age in the homes and communities that they know, however, only 33 per cent would consider installing smart home technology. getty images
technology and our parents, it’s a tale as old as time; from the lady who thought her computer came with a cup holder (remember cd-roms?) to my dad trying to find the “any” button on his keyboard. in a world where nursing homes are becoming more expensive and more isolating for our loved ones, some people are turning to technology to keep them safer and closer to us. canada is getting older. as of 2023, it’s estimated there are about 7.6 million people aged 65 and older in canada, and by 2043 that number will be over 11 million. there is a silver tsunami coming and most experts agree that our healthcare system, particularly our old age infrastructure, is poorly equipped to handle it.
one answer people have been looking to, with growing frequency, is aging at home. multiple studies have shown elderly people deteriorate faster once you take them out of familiar surroundings, with community being a key longevity factor. to support connection and independent living, caregivers are increasingly using technology. this “agetech” market is exploding, with people predicting it will double from $1 to $2 trillion dollars within the next decade.
many elderly people do not want to use tech. in canada, 85 per cent of seniors would like to age in the homes and communities that they know, however, only 33 per cent would consider installing smart home technology. they did not grow up with it, they got along fine without it up until now. not only can it be intimidating, challenges with dexterity or sight further exacerbate the issue. technology in this space has to be done right and must seamlessly integrate into lives and existing patterns.

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hiding in plain sight

the home is a sacred space. even if something is useful, if it is a visible reminder of their age, it tends not to be valued. consider, for example, something as simple as grab bars. they once made the home feel like a hospital, but are now being designed to double as holders for toilet paper or shampoo. a simple example of technology designed with the user in mind.
to incorporate the lived experiences and preferences of diverse groups of end users in the design stage of technologies and ensure that they are more useful, accessible, and responsive to unique needs, the centre for aging + brain health innovation (cabhi) created leap, a virtual social engagement community. leap bridges the gap between older adults and caregivers and the innovators and technologies designed for them.
“healthcare systems need to evolve to meet the health requirements of an aging population. digital technologies and practice can help with this evolution by enabling better, more efficient, and more person-centered care. but the full potential of technology can only be harnessed when the players across the system are meaningfully engaged in the design, validation, and adoption of technology.” – james mayer, senior manager of investments and venture services at cabhi.
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a classic example of a great idea but not taking in account the views of the patient are wearables. many wearables have been designed for purposes like detecting falls or patients with cognitive decline wandering out of a safe space. technology in this space has struggled with adoption, despite obvious benefits. patients will purposefully take them off, or forget to put them on in the morning. wearables only work if patients wear them. what if it were to integrate into something they are already wearing? the apple watch has fall detection and the capability to contact emergency medical services, and is a great example of integrating seamlessly into a patient’s life.
the promise of smart homes offers special advantages for seniors like temperature control and security systems. another futuristic functionality is to enable caregivers to monitor their loved ones in non-invasive ways. as mentioned before, aging in place includes being comfortable at home, so fall detection solutions that include putting cameras in the home haven’t really caught on. nobody likes to feel like they are being watched.
companies have listened to the patients and now are doing this invisibly. xander kardian and casper.ai use radar-based monitoring of vital signs, motion and presence, this in turn reduces trips to the emergency room, decreases hospital admissions and allows a patient to age in place longer. all from an innocuous sensor that inconspicuously blends into the patient’s home.
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staying connected

a common age-related problem is the loss of mobility and subsequent loss of social circles, which leads to social isolation. research has demonstrated a strong inverse correlation between social isolation and the health and wellbeing of older adults.
some social platforms facilitate interaction and support shared experiences. such technologies recognize value in intergenerational relationships for both older and younger people. meta’s portal is a surprisingly great example of this, allowing for a simple press of a button, or even with voice, to connect with loved ones over a video call. i gave my partners, brother, and sister each one for christmas over the pandemic and it has been brilliant, it’s the only piece of tech my parents have really adopted.
a canadian company, careteam, increases the connectedness of multi-disciplinary care teams supporting patients aging at home, including the patients themselves, family and caregivers. simply improving communication of everyone involved in providing the care to elderly patients makes sure everyone is on the same page. this in turn eases the burden of care on families, reduces duplicative actions, and improves the health and lives of the elderly.
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keeping them young

the goal of aging in place is now to support patients in their appropriate location of choice for as long as possible. therefore, the name of the game is prevention and avoiding the need of the patient to move to a nursing home.
over 40 per cent of all nursing home admissions occur as a result of a fall. the company nuvio is working to prevent these through providing more stable mobility support and reimagining walkers. for 50 years walkers have been four posts and two tennis balls. by contrast, nuvio walkers improve the patient’s posture and reduce the need to lean and reach, increasing stability, and safety.
“mobility that supports aging in place hinges on accessing your environment safely and functionally for day-to-day activities. for walker users – standing from a chair, maneuvering in confined spaces, and accomplishing daily reaching tasks are crucial, which is why nuvio focused on these benefits with our walkers.” – matt cumella, founder of nuvio
another major driver of nursing home admissions is incontinence. for women, this is often due to a relatively common but underserved condition called pelvic floor disorders. one in every four adult women, and half of all women over 80 are affected by pelvic floor disorders. similar to walkers, pessaries are another technology that has not changed in 50 years, and until now, has been fit to the patient largely by guess. cosm medical is another canadian company; they are disrupting the pessary market by creating the world’s first personalized gynecological prosthetics.
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what’s in the future?

like it or not, none of us are getting any younger. while science is still working on the means to stop aging, it is exciting to know that we are acknowledging all the stakeholders in the delivery of care and are working to make the process more compassionate and comfortable for our loved ones.
to realize the full potential of technology in improving the quality of life of current and future generations of older people, we need a system-level approach that deliberately and meaningfully connects older people, care partners, healthcare organizations and innovators.
andrew haller, phd, founder of healthstorecanada, is an unabolished tech advocate with a positive outlook. having been called “incessantly optimistic”, he looks to identify challenges within the healthcare system in canada and provide solutions. with a phd in molecular pharmacology, haller has been in the tech ecosystems that are mars discovery district and venturelab for +10 years touching every aspect of a myriad of developing technologies with a goal to help people and patients while shining a light on the innovative startups coming out of canada.

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