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Features for Senior Citizens
Senior Citizens to See High Tech Sensors in Homes,
on Bodies to Monitor Health
Over 3.4 million seniors to be
using these devices by 2012
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Glucose sensor to be implanted under the skin of diabetics.
(Read below) |
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Dec. 6, 2007 – Senior citizens who do not take
kindly to high tech devices had better get more comfortable with them
because there is an increasingly good chance they will have them
managing their home and body in the years ahead. A new projection says
that by 2012 more than 3.4 million senior citizens in the U.S. will be
using networked sensor applications to monitor and improve their health.
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Related Stories |
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July 27, 2006 – Motion and door sensors placed in
the homes of the elderly can help track activity patterns thought to
relate to memory changes that are early signs of dementia. The study
shows that continuous, unobtrusive monitoring of in-home activity may be
a reliable way of assessing changes in motor behaviors that may occur
along with changes in memory.
Read more...
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Just Not Working
Wandering not always a problem and safe walking
should be promoted
July 21, 2006 - Everything from multicolored lights
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Read more...
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Features for Senior Citizens |
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One company active in this area, Living
Independently Group, says that in this last quarter of 2007, it will
install approximately 1,500 new QuietCare systems in U.S. senior
communities. QuietCare senors learn the pattern of activity in a home or
room and alerts monitors if there is a change in these patterns. (See
more below).
Parks Associates, the company releasing the new
report, also estimates that the total U.S. digital home health market
will grow at an average annual rate of 36 percent and turn into a $2.1
billion industry by 2010.
The latest report by Parks Associates highlights
major technology trends for sensors including ECG electrodes, blood
glucose sensors, SpO2 sensors, respiratory rate sensors, activity
sensors, and emerging Body Sensor Network (BSN) applications.
This report projects innovation in sensor
technologies will make these devices lighter, smarter, and more
reliable, driving adoption for home-based medical applications over the
next five years.
Parks Associates also cautions, in addition to
technological challenges, sensor-based home care monitoring applications
must win consumers' trust and gain recognition in multiple industry
sectors, from caregivers to insurers, to realize their full potential.
"The question of who should pay is the key to
promoting healthy demand for sensor-based senior care applications,"
said Harry Wang, senior analyst, Parks Associates.
"The industry will grow even faster if consumers,
government Medicare and Medicaid programs, long-term care insurance
underwriters, and retiree health benefit insurers all chip in to finance
these new technologies."
Wang will present findings in this report, “Sensor
Technology for Home Health Applications” and other digital health issues
in the session Opportunities in the Digital Health Market at 2008
International CES on January 8, 2008, in Las Vegas. This conference will
feature a keynote address by Bill Gates of Microsoft.
Sensor Technology for Home Health Applications is
the latest report in Parks Associates' Digital Health Syndicated
Research Service.
For additional information on Sensor Technology for
Home Health Applications, visit
http://www.digitalhealthnews.com/ or
sales@parksassociates.com.
Examples of what is
coming
Personal Emergency Response System
 The basics and first to gain attention in this
market were Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS), like the DXS-64
by Linear Corp. The pendant transmitter is a battery powered, miniature,
water-resistant, supervised transmitter designed for use in emergency
applications with Linear’s receivers. The transmitter is supplied with a
nylon pendant necklace with a breakaway feature for added safety.
Pressing the button on the transmitter sends a digital coded wireless
signal to its companion receiver.
More at Linear Corp. - click
Blood Glucose Sensors
Sensors for Medicine and Science, Inc. (SMSI) is
developing a glucose sensor (pictured with penny) to be implanted under
the skin in a short outpatient procedure. The sensor is designed to
automatically measure interstitial glucose every few minutes, without
any user intervention. The sensor implant will communicate wirelessly
with a small external reader, allowing the user to monitor glucose
levels continuously or on demand. The reader is designed to be able to
track the rate of change of glucose levels and warn the user of
impending hypo- or hyperglycemia. The target operational life of the
sensor implant will be 6-12 months, after which it would be replaced.
For more information – click.
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The story linked below reports on
the success of sensor system in monitoring for dangerous heat. |
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Study Shows 20 Percent of Senior Citizens at Risk
for Heat-Related Illness
Company
offers tips for
keeping elderly safe from heat
July 13, 2006 - The results of a new study indicate
that 20 percent of seniors may be at risk of a heat-related illness
during the summer, due to the temperature in their residence exceeding
90 degrees. The data was obtained using QuietCare, an early detection
and warning system that the company says provides caregivers with around
the clock information and alerts about the safety and well-being of
elderly, while maintaining their privacy and independence.
Read more...
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Activity Sensors
 QuietCare’s patented, advanced passive monitoring
technology learns normal patterns for key activities such as wakeup,
sleep, night time bathroom activity, overall activity level, and
hydration, alerting caregivers when there is a meaningful deviation from
the individual’s norm, indicating possible health, safety and/or
wellness issues without residents having to do or wear anything. The
system utilizes small wireless motion sensors strategically placed
throughout the apartment or home to capture and isolate key activity
patterns. In addition to learning each individual’s daily routines,
QuietCare can help identify potential medical emergencies, such as
possible bathroom falls, and help staff prevent wandering, falling, and
other risk factors.
Should any urgent situation or abnormal deviation
from the norm occur, a red alert to check on the resident is immediately
sent to staff via cell phone or pager.
For more information - click
Editor’s Notes:
Parks Associates Digital Health Research Statement
“Parks Associates is an internationally recognized
market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer
technology products and services. Parks Associates envisions pervasive
adoption of digital technology within the global health care system and
a drastic transformation of how healthcare and wellness aids are
delivered to consumers in the future.
“Our research clarifies the opportunities and
challenges for technology vendors, healthcare providers, and companies
considering entering this changing market.
“Parks Associates' expertise includes new media,
digital entertainment and gaming, home networks, Internet and television
services, digital health, mobile applications and services, consumer
electronics, and home control systems and security.
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