A Review on Ambient Assisted Living in a Maltese Context

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-128
Author(s):  
Joseph A. Zammit
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Residential Care ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Senior Citizens ◽  
Ambient Assisted Living ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Residential Care Facility

The number of senior citizens is continually increasing and they are enjoying a longer life span due to improved quality of life and healthcare. Old age brings with it a whole new set of challenges ranging from the physical to the cognitive. Medical advances have made possible a good quality of life, albeit at a high economic cost to relocate to a residential care facility. One of the main objectives is to keep senior citizens living and participating in their local communities where they have lived and contributed for decades. Another issue faced by moving to residential care is the rising cost of such services. Assisted living allows citizens to continue living in the community whilst using technology to provide a set of services that enable independent living while keeping in contact with care providers. This is a rapidly evolving multi-disciplinary area utilizing techniques ranging from smart hardware, communications, data mining, robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and ICT technologies. This paper discusses a summary of potential applications and the technological disciplines needed to create an independent living space together with issues arising from the application of such technology. Finally a discussion of the application of assisted living in the Maltese context is presented.

scholarly journals IoT/Sensor-Based Infrastructures Promoting a Sense of Home, Independent Living, Comfort and Wellness

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan Cahill ◽  
Raul Portales ◽  
Sean McLoughin ◽  
Nithia Nagan ◽  
Braden Henrichs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Participatory Design ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Ambient Assisted Living ◽  
Residential Setting ◽  
Human Machine Interaction ◽  
Resident Wellness

This paper presents the results of three interrelated studies concerning the specification and implementation of ambient assisted living (AAL)/Internet of Things (IoT)/sensor-based infrastructures, to support resident wellness and person-centered care delivery, in a residential care context. Overall, the paper reports on the emerging wellness management concept and IoT solution. The three studies adopt a stakeholder evaluation approach to requirements elicitation and solution design. Human factors research combines several qualitative human–machine interaction (HMI) design frameworks/methods, including realist ethnography, process mapping, persona-based design, and participatory design. Software development activities are underpinned by SCRUM/AGILE frameworks. Three structuring principles underpin the resident’s lived experience and the proposed ‘sensing’ framework. This includes (1) resident wellness, (2) the resident’s environment (i.e., room and broader social spaces which constitute ‘home’ for the resident), and (3) care delivery. The promotion of resident wellness, autonomy, quality of life and social participation depends on adequate monitoring and evaluation of information pertaining to (1), (2) and (3). Furthermore, the application of ambient assisted living technology in a residential setting depends on a clear definition of related care delivery processes and allied social and interpersonal communications. It is argued that independence (and quality of life for older adults) is linked to technology that enables interdependence, and specifically technology that supports social communication between key roles including residents, caregivers, and family members.

scholarly journals Ambient Assisted Living: A Review of Technologies, Methodologies and Future Perspectives for Healthy Aging of Population

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 3549
Author(s):  
Grazia Cicirelli ◽  
Roberto Marani ◽  
Antonio Petitti ◽  
Annalisa Milella ◽  
Tiziana D’Orazio
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Ambient Assisted Living ◽  
Comprehensive Analysis ◽  
Future Perspectives ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
Points Of View

Over the last decade, there has been considerable and increasing interest in the development of Active and Assisted Living (AAL) systems to support independent living. The demographic change towards an aging population has introduced new challenges to today’s society from both an economic and societal standpoint. AAL can provide an arrary of solutions for improving the quality of life of individuals, for allowing people to live healthier and independently for longer, for helping people with disabilities, and for supporting caregivers and medical staff. A vast amount of literature exists on this topic, so this paper aims to provide a survey of the research and skills related to AAL systems. A comprehensive analysis is presented that addresses the main trends towards the development of AAL systems both from technological and methodological points of view and highlights the main issues that are worthy of further investigation.

Struggling between a sense of belonging and a sense of alienation: Residents' experiences of living in a residential care facility for older people in Sweden

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 143-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Ericson-Lidman
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Residential Care ◽  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Care Quality ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Residential Care Facility ◽  
Residential Care Facilities

Living in residential care facilities for older people is described in both positive and negative terms. To maintain care quality of a vulnerable group in a constantly changing care context, it is important to continually describe their experiences. This qualitative study aims to describe residents’ experiences of living in a residential care facility for older people in Sweden. Six residents were interviewed and the interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The analysis resulted in nine sub-categories, two categories and one overall theme. Living in a residential care facility for older people is revealed as ‘Struggling between a sense of belonging and a sense of alienation’. It is of great importance for care providers to explore and try to understand what individuals perceive as factors for feelings of belonging, thereby preventing alienation.

Wireless Solutions for Elderly People Assistance

2010 ◽  
pp. 102-115
Author(s):  
Alessia D’Andrea ◽  
Arianna D’Ulizia ◽  
Fernando Ferri ◽  
Patrizia Grifoni
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Ambient Assisted Living ◽  
Wireless Systems ◽  
Wireless Technologies

Wireless technologies are increasingly acquiring a considerable relevance in the field of Ambient Assisted Living. This contributes to independent living and quality of life for many elderly people by reducing the need of caretakers and personal nursing. In this chapter we provide a classification of existing wireless technologies for Ambient Assisted Living based on the role they can have in the assistance to elderly people. Then, we provide an overview of several intelligent wireless systems applied in the Ambient Assisted Living on considering the different wireless technologies used in each of them.

Wireless Solutions for Elderly People Assistance

2012 ◽  
pp. 1078-1092
Author(s):  
Alessia D’Andrea ◽  
Arianna D’Ulizia ◽  
Fernando Ferri ◽  
Patrizia Grifoni
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Ambient Assisted Living ◽  
Wireless Systems ◽  
Wireless Technologies

Wireless technologies are increasingly acquiring a considerable relevance in the field of Ambient Assisted Living. This contributes to independent living and quality of life for many elderly people by reducing the need of caretakers and personal nursing. In this chapter we provide a classification of existing wireless technologies for Ambient Assisted Living based on the role they can have in the assistance to elderly people. Then, we provide an overview of several intelligent wireless systems applied in the Ambient Assisted Living on considering the different wireless technologies used in each of them.

System for Assistance on Bath of Bedridden Elderly People

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karolina Bezerra ◽  
José Machado ◽  
Vitor Carvalho ◽  
Filomena Soares ◽  
Bruno Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Ambient Assisted Living ◽  
The Other ◽  
Mechatronic System ◽  
Rehabilitation Centers ◽  
Aged Person

From Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) perspective it is important to have information regarding the type of care needed by bedridden elderly people (BEP) living in their homes, in order to support independence, autonomy and maximize their quality of life. Some basic tasks as eating, taking a bath and the hygiene cares may be difficult to execute, regarding that almost always the main caregiver is the other element of the couple (husband or wife). Following this trend, the development of mechatronic devices is of upmost importance in creating solutions to facilitate these tasks. This paper presents the conceptual design of a mechatronic system especially devoted to the assistance during the bath of BEP. Issues as reducing the number of caregivers to only one to assist the bath and reducing the system’s handling complexity (because most of the time it will be used by an aged person) are considered. Visits to rehabilitation centers and hospitals, and respective working meetings, are considered in the development of the proposed mechatronic system.

Bathing in residential care: understanding the experiences of residents and their care providers

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-117
Author(s):  
Ann Holroyd ◽  
Heather Holroyd
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Residential Care ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Energy Levels ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Residential Care Facility ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand how changes in an older adult’s physical capacity alter their bathing preferences, how the care environment incorporates residents’ values and beliefs around bathing to fulfil these changing care needs, and how institutional factors, such as staff scheduling and communication processes, influence Resident Care Aides’ (RCAs) bathing practices. Design/methodology/approach – A multiple methods approach involving surveys and interviews with residents and RCAs in a Canadian residential care facility. This paper draws mostly from the semi-structured, qualitative interviews with older adult residents (n=9; Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE) scores > 15) and RCAs (n=10) on two nursing units offering different bathing options. Findings – Decreasing energy levels and physical decline were commonly cited reasons for residents’ changing bathing preferences. Residents were overall very appreciative of the bathing care they received in residential care, and identified the weekly tub bath as an anticipated encounter where they experienced a valued social interaction with their assigned RCA. While identifying bathing as an occasionally stressful aspect of their work, RCAs also described the bathing experience as an intimate bonding activity. The study identified bathing as an important activity in residential care. Originality/value – Previous studies have focused on moderate to severely cognitively impaired older adults’ and their demonstration of agitated behaviours during bathing. Most participants in this study had only minor cognitive impairment, as measured by MMSE scores (average score=20.6); therefore, this study provides insight into the experiences and needs of older adults whose perspective is not generally reflected in the literature.

Decision-making framework for using ambient assisted living

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Majid H. Alsulami ◽  
Mohammed S. Alsaqer ◽  
Anthony S. Atkins
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Ambient Assisted Living ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Decision Making Framework

Purpose Technology plays an important role in assisting elderly people to live independently, longer and improve their quality of life and health, in supporting their daily activities, etc. The ageing population becomes a global phenomenon. The population of Saudi Arabia continues to age (>60 years of age) currently (5%) compared to other group ages. In 2050, it will increase rapidly to 20.9% of the Saudi population. The current research aims at examining the barriers that health-care providers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are experiencing in the adoption of ambient assisted living (AAL) technologies among the elderly. The study aims to identify a challenging issue with the increasing the number of elderly among the population in the country, which has highlighted the need to use AAL technology to improve the quality of life among the elderly. Design/methodology/approach This study involved a community of practice (CoP) study as a method of data collection where data collected were presented and discussed in line with the existing literature review findings. Findings In total, 14 factors were identified in this study and discussed in the context of Saudi Arabia, which resulted in developing a decision-making framework for using AAL by health-care providers. Those factors are essential in boosting the usage of technology in improving elderly health in Saudi Arabia. Research limitations/implications This study includes implications for developing a decision-making framework for using AAL. Social implications This study clarifies that technology can connect elderly people with society. Originality/value In total, 14 factors were identified in this study and discussed in the context of Saudi Arabia.

scholarly journals Overview of Policies, Guidelines, and Standards for Active Assisted Living Data Exchange: Thematic Analysis (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura X. Fadrique ◽  
Dia Rahman ◽  
Hélène Vaillancourt ◽  
Paul Boissonneault ◽  
Tania Donovska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Data Sharing ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Ambient Assisted Living ◽  
Primary Concern ◽  
Privacy And Security ◽  
Health Technologies ◽  
The Creation

BACKGROUND A primary concern for governments and health care systems is the rapid growth of the aging population. To provide a better quality of life for the elderly, researchers have explored the use of wearables, sensors, actuators, and mobile health technologies. The term AAL can be referred to as active assisted living or ambient assisted living, with both sometimes used interchangeably. AAL technologies describes systems designed to improve the quality of life, aid in independence, and create healthier lifestyles for those who need assistance at any stage of their lives. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to understand the standards and policy guidelines that companies use in the creation of AAL technologies and to highlight the gap between available technologies, standards, and policies and what should be available for use. METHODS A literature review was conducted to identify critical standards and frameworks related to AAL. Interviews with 15 different stakeholders across Canada were carried out to complement this review. The results from interviews were coded using a thematic analysis and then presented in two workshops about standards, policies, and governance to identify future steps and opportunities regarding AAL. RESULTS Our study showed that the base technology, standards, and policies necessary for the creation of AAL technology are not the primary problem causing disparity between existing and accessible technologies; instead nontechnical issues and integration between existing technologies present the most significant issue. A total of five themes have been identified for further analysis: (1) end user and purpose; (2) accessibility; (3) interoperability; (4) data sharing; and (5) privacy and security. CONCLUSIONS Interoperability is currently the biggest challenge for the future of data sharing related to AAL technology. Additionally, the majority of stakeholders consider privacy and security to be the main concerns related to data sharing in the AAL scope. Further research is necessary to explore each identified gap in detail.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document