Innovative AI-Based Apps for Senior Care
By 2030, one in six people in the world will be in their 60s. According to the WHO, by 2050, the number of elderly people will almost double from 12% to 22%. With these dynamics, the healthcare sector must be ready to meet their needs, from hospital treatment to home care. Nowadays, AI-based healthcare apps can take care of the elderly remotely. Let’s take a look at four common AI use cases in Senior Care.
The majority of the elderly don’t want to leave their houses for nursing homes. They want to stay independent and receive personalized care in a familiar environment. But the price of such services is impressive. According to Genworth, it is about $5,000 per month. By 2030, the cost will increase by $1,500.
Therefore, with the evergrowing demand for such services, healthcare specialists must find a way to reduce the cost of home care. We’ll mention several efficient AI-based Senior Care solutions available on the market.
Telemedicine apps
Remote consultations, or virtual visits, are becoming common practice. There are telemedicine apps that help the elderly make appointments with healthcare professionals, receive remote treatment, and monitor their health using IoT sensors and devices.
Some platforms, like the Canadian Telecare app, offer patients a triage questionnaire to forward emergencies to 911. If a patient’s condition is not life-threatening, the system suggests scheduling a visit to a doctor.
Elderly people can contact medical personnel via video link or chat with them via text or audio messages. The app is adapted for visually impaired patients, it includes automatic speech-to-text recognition for easy communication with medical workers. The platform is integrated with IoT devices that collect data on pressure, pulse, blood oxygen levels, and other vital signs.
Remote patient monitoring platforms
To better control treatment and care for the elderly, healthcare software development companies are combining the power of AI algorithms with connected devices. Platforms collect information from smartwatches, trackers, and wireless ECG monitors. If a patient’s indicators deviate from the norm, such a system notifies medical staff about their condition. A nurse initiates a video consultation with a doctor to help the patient in time.
Some platforms include AI-based functionality with home environment support. An elderly patient permits remote video monitoring. A healthcare provider sets up cameras in their house to watch them around the clock. Smart cameras automatically detect whether this person is standing, lying on the floor, or sitting. In case of unusual behavior, they immediately alert medical personnel. If the patient falls ill and is not able to call a doctor, specialists will rush to rescue this person.
Robotic home assistants
Pew Research Center estimated that 37% of American seniors live alone. There are great risks that if they feel unwell, no one will help them. Therefore, healthcare software development companies are trying to provide physical support by creating robotic assistants. Such innovative “nurses” communicate with the elderly and maintain their mental activity through games and news. They help patients to call their relatives and remind them of their medication or water intake schedules.
Robotic home assistants help the elderly live independently and keep in touch with their relatives regularly. They do not need to hire a housewife or pay a monthly fee for a boarding house. This is suitable for people who can still take care of themselves but under the “supervision” of a robot.
Smart implants
Some companies develop smart implants. These are sensors implanted in a patient’s body to better manage their health. Such a sensor reads certain vital signs allowing doctors to respond to health problems faster and more efficiently.
For example, Glysens produces implantable glucose sensors for the elderly with diabetes. A small capsule measures the exact level of glucose in the blood and transmits data via Bluetooth to a mobile app. Under the supervision of a doctor, a patient controls their sugar level to prevent the development of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Conclusion
AI-based healthcare apps improve the way of caring for the elderly and make it possible to monitor patients remotely. Lonely people do not need to hire housewives or leave their homes. Under the supervision of doctors, they feel secure around the clock. If a patient’s state deteriorates, a smart system will call an ambulance. AI offers a more economical option for Senior Care without sacrificing quality.
A medical institution planning to implement an AI tool for Senior Care should contact an experienced healthcare software development vendor. An IT provider knows how to work with medical data, protect confidential patient information, and implement the necessary functionality in a system.
