scholarly journals A Preference-Driven Smart Home Service for the Elderly’s Biophilic Experience

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 5108
Author(s):  
Eun-Ji Lee ◽  
Sung-Jun Park
Keyword(s):  
Service Provision ◽  
Smart Home ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Natural Process ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
New Developments ◽  
Home Service ◽  
Positive Experiences

Smart home services (SHS) should support the positive experiences of the elderly in homes with a focus on getting closer to nature. The study identified the services preferred by the elderly through a survey on the biophilic experience-based SHS, and to discuss the configuration of the sensors and devices required to provide the service. We reorganized the biophilic experience-based SHS and related sensors and devices, focusing on our previous study, and developed a survey instrument. A preference survey was conducted on 250 adults aged 20 and older, and the SPSS program was used for a factor analysis and independent two-sample T-test. We derived six factors for biophilic experience-based SHS. Compared to other age groups, the elderly preferred services that were mainly attributed to factors such as ‘Immersion and interaction with nature’ (A), ‘Management of well-being and indoor environmental quality (IEQ)’ (B), and ‘Natural process and systems’ (F). We proposed 15 prioritized services, along with their sensor and device configurations, in consideration of service provision regarding the elderly’s preferences and universality. This study contributes to new developments in elderly-friendly smart home research by converting bio-friendly ideas into the market in the development of medical services and SHS for the elderly.

scholarly journals A Framework of Smart-Home Service for Elderly’s Biophilic Experience

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 8572
Author(s):  
Eun Ji Lee ◽  
Sung Jun Park
Keyword(s):  
Smart Home ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Related Services ◽  
Sustainable Living ◽  
Living Space ◽  
Home Service ◽  
Optimal Health ◽  
Home Technology ◽  
Smart Home Technology

Smart-home technology and related services can reinforce a person’s experiential nature, promoting sustainable living among the elderly. It is crucial in the housing industry that support “Aging in Place”, contributing to the contact, control, and simulation of nature at home as well as the creation of a high-quality living space instead of mechanical achievement. Further, biophilic experience, the strengthening of inherent human propensity to nature for optimal health and well-being, supports the elderly’s physical, mental, and sociological health. However, despite the continuing emphasis on the benefits of residential nature experiences for the elderly, the application of smart-home technology and services is insufficient. This study presents a theoretical basis for combining biophilia and smart-home technology, providing a framework for smart-home services to ensure elderly residents can have biophilic experiences. In this study, smart-home components and related studies that can support the biophilic experience and the corresponding technology are analyzed. The results suggest the type and content of smart-home service for ensuring a biophilic experience, while also indicating the configuration of supportive input and output devices according to the service framework. Moreover, we recommend the interaction characteristics of smart-home devices from the perspective of residents, space, efficient service provision, and physical application. This paper broadens our understanding of the sustainable, residential-environment nature experience and informs the expansion of the aged-friendly smart-home industry, contributing to smart-home services trends and development.

scholarly journals Age sequences of the elderly’ social network and its efficacies on well-being: an urban-rural comparison in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenhua Zheng ◽  
Hong Chen
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Urban Elderly ◽  
Family Network ◽  
The Social ◽  
Urban Rural ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas

Abstract Background Although social network is a known determinant of the elderly’s well-being, it is not clear, in urban-rural and age-comparison, what its structural characteristics are and how it works for well-being. The research aims to discuss the features of the elderly’s social network and the social network efficacies on the well-being of older adults in China’s urban and rural areas as well as revealing the urban-rural disparities among the elderly of different age groups. Methods In this study, descriptive statistical analysis and structural equation Modeling (SEM) were used to make a group comparison between the urban and rural elderly of different age groups. All data are quoted from 2014 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS). The survey adopted the multi-stage probability sampling method, targeting Chinese senior citizens aged 60 and above, the ultimate samples totaled 11,511. Results The social network of the elderly in China feature a “reverse structure” in age sequences: with ageing, family network of the elderly expand while their friend network shrink; also, the expansion scale of the rural elderly’s family network is significantly larger than that of the city’s while the shrinkage scale of their friend network is smaller compared with its urban counterpart. The effect of family network on the rural elderly’s well-being shows a remarkable increase with age. However, there is no noticeable change in urban elderly groups of different ages. Conclusion The social network characteristics of the Chinese elderly are different between different age stages. Namely, the family network and the friend network have the “reverse structure “ in age sequences. Meanwhile, the family network and the friend network have different efficacies on the well-being of the elderly in China, and the differences between urban and rural areas are even more obvious. For rural elderly, family network has very important effects on their well-being. Moreover, With the increase of age, family network’s efficacies increase gradually. For urban elderly, comparatively, family network is just as important as friend network.

Prevalence of mental disorders in non-demented elderly people in primary care

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 757-768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luisa Baladón ◽  
Ana Fernández ◽  
Maria Rubio-Valera ◽  
Jorge Cuevas-Esteban ◽  
Diego J. Palao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Somatic Comorbidity ◽  
Axis I

ABSTRACTBackground:Mental disorders in the elderly are common, with a 12-month prevalence in the community ranging from 8.54% to 26.4%. Unfortunately, many mental disorders are unrecognized, untreated, and associated with poor health outcomes. The aim of this paper is to describe the prevalence of mental disorders in the elderly primary care (PC) population and its associated factors by age groups.Methods:Cross-sectional survey, conducted in 77 PC centers in Catalonia (Spain), 1,192 patients over 65 years old. The prevalence of mental disorders was assessed through face-to-face evaluations using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, Research Version (SCID-I-RV) and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI); chronic physical conditions were noted using a checklist; and disability through the Sheehan Disability Scales (SDS).Results:Nearly 20% of participants had a mental disorder in the previous 12 months. Anxiety disorders were the most frequent, (10.9%) (95% CI = 8.2–14.4), followed by mood disorders (7.4%) (95% CI = 5.7–9.5). Being female, greater perceived stress and having mental health/emotional problems as the main reason for consultation were associated with the presence of any mental disorder. There were no differences in prevalence across age groups. Somatic comorbidity was not associated with the presence of mental disorders.Conclusions:Mental disorders are highly prevalent among the elderly in PC in Spain. Efforts are needed to develop strategies to reduce this prevalence and improve the well-being of the elderly. Based on our results, we thought it might be useful to assess perceived stress regularly in PC, focusing on people who consult for emotional distress, or that have greater perceived stress.

Radiofrequency exposure in young and old: different sensitivities in light of age-relevant natural differences

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Redmayne ◽  
Olle Johansson
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Economic Implications ◽  
Population Means ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Comparative Risk

AbstractOur environment is now permeated by anthropogenic radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation, and individuals of all ages are exposed for most of each 24 h period from transmitting devices. Despite claims that children are more likely to be vulnerable than healthy adults to unwanted effects of this exposure, there has been no recent examination of this, nor of comparative risk to the elderly or ill. We sought to clarify whether research supports the claim of increased risk in specific age-groups. First, we identified the literature which has explored age-specific pathophysiological impacts of RF-EMR. Natural life-span changes relevant to these different impacts provides context for our review of the selected literature, followed by discussion of health and well-being implications. We conclude that age-dependent RF-EMR study results, when considered in the context of developmental stage, indicate increased specific vulnerabilities in the young (fetus to adolescent), the elderly, and those with cancer. There appears to be at least one mechanism other than the known thermal mechanism causing different responses to RF-EMR depending upon the exposure parameters, the cell/physiological process involved, and according to age and health status. As well as personal health and quality-of-life impacts, an ageing population means there are economic implications for public health and policy.

Frequency and heritability of depression symptomatology in the second half of life: evidence from Danish twins over 45

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 1175-1185 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. JOHNSON ◽  
M. McGUE ◽  
D. GAIST ◽  
J. W. VAUPEL ◽  
K. CHRISTENSEN
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Genetic Origins ◽  
Depression Symptomatology ◽  
Special Risk

Background. Self-reported depressive symptoms among the elderly have generated considerable interest because they are readily available measures of overall well-being in a population often thought to be at special risk for mental disorder.Method. The heritability of depression symptoms was investigated in a sample of 2169 pairs of Danish twins (1033 MZ and 1136 same sex DZ) ranging in age from 45 to over 95. Twins completed an interview assessment that identified symptoms of depression, which were scored on Affective, Somatic and Total scales.Results. Overall heritability estimates (a2) for the Affective (a2 = 0.27, (95% CI 0.22–0.32)). Somatic (a2 = 0.26, (0.21–0.32)), and Total (a2 = 0.29, (0.22–0.34)) scales were all moderate, statistically significant and similar to results from other studies. To assess possible variations in heritability across the wide age span, the sample was stratified into age groups in increments of 10 years. The magnitude of heritable influence did not vary significantly with age or sex. Somatic scale heritability tended to be greater for females than for males, though this difference was not statistically significant. The genetic correlation between the Affective and Somatic scales was 0.71, suggesting substantial common genetic origins.Conclusions. Though the frequency of self-reported depressive symptoms increased with age in this sample, their heritability did not.

scholarly journals Smart Home Adoption: The Impact of User Characteristics and Differences in Perception of Benefits

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 393
Author(s):  
Soojung Chang ◽  
Kyeongsook Nam
Keyword(s):  
Smart Home ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Environmental Control ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Smart Homes ◽  
User Characteristics ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Home Service ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Impact

Despite the various benefits offered by smart homes, they have not yet been widely adopted by mainstream users. This study was designed to identify user perceptions in the association between smart home service preference and adoption and to identify factors affecting the adoption and service preferences of smart homes. In order to achieve the goal of the study, an online survey was conducted among 400 potential users in the Republic of Korea. The main findings are as follows: First, there were considerable needs for the services that can support the independent lives of residents, such as safety and convenience services, among all age groups. Second, the study findings suggested that those who preferred environmental control service most were more likely to become relatively active adopters. Third, a significant association between the preference for smart home services and the intention to use was identified. Finally, the study findings suggested that the number of service preferences and adoption was not directly proportional. The findings reported in this study can improve the overall understanding of the process of adopting smart homes, and can provide important insights into user-centered strategies to promote the adoption of smart home services.

scholarly journals Health Inequality Among the Elderly in Rural China and Influencing Factors: Evidence from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (20) ◽  
pp. 4018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pan ◽  
Fan ◽  
Yang ◽  
Deng
Keyword(s):  
Health Inequality ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Inequality Index ◽  
Healthy Longevity

Based on data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), this paper calculates the health distribution of the elderly using the Quality of Well-Being Scale (QWB) score, and then estimates health inequality among the elderly in rural China using the Wagstaff index (WI) and Erreygers index (EI). Following this, it compares health inequalities among the elderly in different age groups, and finally, uses the Shapley and recentered influence function-index-ordinary least squares (RIF-I-OLS) model to decompose the effect of four factors on health inequality among the elderly in rural China. The QWB score distribution shows that the health of the elderly in rural China improved with social economic development and medical reform from 2002 to 2014. However, at the same time, we were surprised to find that the health level of the 65–74 years old group has been declining steadily since 2008. This phenomenon implies that the incidence of chronic diseases is moving towards the younger elderly. The WI and EI show that there is indeed pro-rich health inequality among the rural elderly, the health inequality of the younger age groups is more serious than that of the older age groups, and the former incidence of health inequality is higher. Health inequality in the age group of 65–74 years old is higher than that in other groups, and the trend of change fluctuated downward from 2002 to 2014. Health inequality in the age group of 75–84 years old is lower than that in the group of 65–74 years old, but higher than that in the other age groups. The results of Shapley decomposition show that demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status (SES), health care access, and quality of later life contributed 0.0054, 0.0130, 0.0442, and 0.0218 to the health inequality index of the elderly, which accounted for 6.40%, 15.39%, 52.41%, and 25.80% of health inequality index. From the results of RIF-I-OLS decomposition, this paper has analyzed detailed factors’ marginal effects on health inequality from four dimensions, which indicates that the health inequality among the elderly in rural China was mainly caused by the disparity of income, medical expenses, and living arrangement.

scholarly journals Nutritional status and dietary adequacy in rural communities of a protected area in Gabon

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1946-1959 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Blaney ◽  
M Beaudry ◽  
M Latham ◽  
M Thibault
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Dietary Adequacy ◽  
Nutrient Adequacy ◽  
Weighing Method

AbstractObjectiveAs part of a larger study designed to understand how to protect the food and nutrition security of individuals living in a protected area of Gabon, we assessed their nutritional status and its relationship to dietary adequacy and health status.DesignA 7 d food consumption survey was conducted during each of the two major seasons using a weighing method. Data were also collected on weight, height and health of individuals as well as on sociodemographic characteristics and potential determinants of the nutrition situation.SettingFour rural communities were intentionally selected to represent both inland and coastal settings and access to food markets.SubjectsApproximately 500 individuals representing over 90 % of the population of these communities participated in the survey during each season.ResultsUndernutrition was present in the area, particularly among children <5 years of age and the elderly. Health was generally good and under-fives were most frequently ill. Energy, Fe and vitamin A requirements of individuals were generally not satisfied; the opposite was true for protein. The estimated prevalence of inadequate intakes of energy and vitamin A was very high in most age groups. Global nutrient adequacy was associated with nutritional outcome.ConclusionsIndividuals do not eat enough and breast-feeding practices are poor. Many suffer from undernutrition, particularly young children and the elderly. The results confirm the need to investigate the determinants of this poor nutrition situation to ensure that protection of natural resources will not be associated with harm to the well-being of the population.

scholarly journals Analysis of indicators of life quality and well-being of people of older age groups in the russian federation

2018 ◽  
pp. 16-24
Author(s):  
N. I. Burdaev ◽  
S. G. Sboeva ◽  
S. A. Krivosheev
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Global Rating ◽  
Demographic Aging ◽  
Global Age ◽  
Federal Districts ◽  
The Russian Federation

Aim: to study the problems of the elderly population and the directions of optimization of the geriatric care system. Material and methods. The reports of the international study Global Age Watch Index for 2013 and 2015, the data of state statistics on demography for 2013-2017 are analyzed. The levels of demographic aging in federal districts werestudied. Using Microsoft Excel, SPSS, statistical data processing was performed. 210 respondents were interviewed in an equal gender ratio by the method of simple random sampling in Moscow and the Moscow region.Results. Based on the Global Age Watch Index global rating, an analysis was made of indicators of the quality of life and wellbeing of older people living in the Russian Federation. The factors influencing demographic aging are considered and their estimation is made on the basis of the correlation analysis on the example of four federal districts of the country. To study the motivation for the consumption of drugs by persons of older age groups, a sociological survey was conducted. A conceptual model of the geriatric service management system is proposed with the introduction of systemic unity and an integrated approach to solving organizational, financial, and scientific and methodological problems of providing geriatric care.Conclusion. As a result of the analysis, the reasons for the low position of the Russian Federation in the Global Rating of the Global Age Watch Index, including the incomplete medical personnel and the variation in per capita incomes of the population in the regions, are identified. In the course of the sociological survey, the main pharmacotherapeutic groups of drugs purchased by persons of older age groups as well as the level of expenses were identified. In addition, the respondents' opinion was revealed on optimizing the organizational and managerial structure of medical, social and pharmaceutical care, focused on active longevity, the use of the personal potential of the elderly in work activities.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document