Aging in Place
A study from the Georgia Institute of Technology indicates that older adults are willing to give up some of their privacy if it enables them to remain independent longer.
The study examined older adults' perception of a technology-rich home environment, part of the multidisciplinary Aware Home project conducted at Georgia Tech's Broadband Institute Residential Laboratory. The laboratory was a three-story house where researchers focus on domestic technologies for the future.
According the Georgia Tech Research News, researchers invited 44 adults ages 65 to 75 to tour the residential laboratory and view new technologies designed by Georgia Tech College of Computing researchers specifically to help people age in place. The first technology included a flat panel display, called the Cooks's Collage, that photographs people during meal preparation and displays the cook's six most recent actions on a flat-panel display to prevent distracted chefs from forgetting about what actions they have already taken. The second innovation, The Digital Family Portrait, helps out-of-town family members check in on older relatives through a display monitor that takes a static photo of the older relative while a digital frame reflects information about the older relative such as activity level. The third technology is the FaceBot, a communication device that interacts with other home technologies. Residents can talk directly to the FaceBot.
The results of the study showed that older people had more interest in products that could fulfill a need or provide a benefit, rather than technology viewed as luxury items.
"This illustrates how important it is to older adults to stay in their homes, rather than move into some type of assisted-living housing," said Wendy Rogers, a professor of psychology at Georgia Tech.
The desire for older Americans to remain in their homes has fueled the development of innovative products designed to help people remain independent and feel secure, despite age or disability. Home Health Products brings you the latest in product innovations that your clients need in our annual buyer's guide edition. Our 2004 Buyer's Guide issue puts you in touch with every resource needed to take care of your clients, all at your fingertips. Filled with company profiles, products and services, this is a valuable resource that can be used throughout the year.
This article originally appeared in the May 2004 issue of HME Business.