Impact of Wireless Communications Technologies on Elder People Healthcare: Smart Home in Australia

Abstract

Over the last three decades, there has been a dramatic rise in ageing populations in most countries. Older people are remaining in nursing home care due to the fact that general services and medical support are provided. However, these environments often negatively affect older people due to high cost, limited staff and the social impacts they have. A way to overcome these challenges is to place the elderly instead of the Nursing Homes in a Smart Home environment. In other words, by implementing such technology, older people are able to remain at home, instead of going to nursing homes and pay the extremely high cost. The aim of this study is to describe the impact of wireless communications technologies on both nursing home and smart home. Using smart wireless sensors, wireless communication and ambient intelligent systems, it is possible to create systems capable of measuring vital signs of the patient at home. This is based on exchanging signals (information) between the sensor and the data server from already deployed sensors (infrared or camera) or wearable smart sensors, allowing older people to stay at home.