Enhancing technology in Retirement Living communities

The ageing population is resulting in people in the UK living longer; by 2037, it is predicted that around a quarter of the population will be 65 or over. Studies have also shown that many in later life feel younger than they are. Within retirement communities, new technologies are simplifying and enhancing the lives of residents while also providing a secure and comfortable environment. Residences are now able to take advantage of features such as automatic door locks, security cameras, and medical alert systems.

These tools provide residents with a sense of safety and security, while also freeing up staff to attend to other tasks. In addition, new technologies are also making it possible for residents to interact with one another and their families through social media and video conferencing.

As changes in technology, lifestyle, medication and the digital sphere transform our conventional expectations of later life, how can we evolve services and amenities to serve the retirement community?

Smart homes

Smart homes will play a significant role in what this looks like.

With central control, the smart home, also referred to as ‘the connected home’ or Internet of Things (IoT), allows individuals to control their entire home from one place. Either by a physical control panel or using voice commands and dictation.

How can a smart home benefit the older generation?

Smart home devices offer a peace of mind for family and caregivers that is of a much higher scale than that of just providing an emergency necklace or pull cord. Smart homes can provide independence, reassurance and security.

Convenience

• With gentle reminders for everyday tasks such as taking medication, appointments or to put the bin out on collection day

• Mobility is one of the main reasons the elderly require additional support in their homes. Getting in and out of a static, manual bed is challenging. A fully mobile bed that is controlled entirely by voice, lowering enough for an elderly person's feet to touch the ground and raising back up into a standing position will invoke independence

• Lights, lamps and blinds can be entirely automated for particular times of the day, or controlled as and when by the individual

• Replenishing a fridge is as simple as asking it. Artificial Intelligence means it can know favourites and allergies, the address and preference for delivery days and suitable times

• Robotic Vacuums like the Roomba. Set it on a regular schedule and monitor and schedule it from your smartphone. They go right back to their charging station when they are done and the only thing that has to be done is empty the dustpan

• Cookers to heat food at the optimum temperature, for the perfect length of time

• Opening and closing windows when the air condition inside is poor

• When there’s been no rain and sunny days, turning on the garden lawn sprinkler

• Controlling the heating and the temperature of the house

• All electronics - turning the TV on and off, playing music

Health

Telehealth or virtual doctor appointments is the use of digital information and communication technologies, such as computers and mobile devices, to access health care services remotely. Telehealth allows patients to consult with health care providers from different locations and enables providers to share patient information and coordinate care more effectively.

Telehealth services can be used to provide a wide range of health care services, including primary care, mental health care, and specialist consultations. They can also be used to support patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, by providing education and reminders about self-care, as well as monitoring patients’ progress and adjusting treatment plans as needed.

There are many benefits of TeleHealth, including improved access to care, increased convenience, and improved quality of care. Telehealth can also help to reduce the cost of healthcare by reducing the need for travel and office visits.

Despite the many advantages of TeleHealth, there are also some challenges that need to be addressed. These include ensuring that patients have access to the technology needed to use TeleHealth services, ensuring privacy and security of patient information, and addressing provider resistance to the use of new technology.

There are also a variety of smart pill dispensers on the market that alert an individual when they haven’t taken their medication, but also will not allow you to accidentally take two days by sealing the dispenser for future days.

Safety

Right now, we have technologies available to us such as ‘ring’, that allow users to see who is at the front door via a smartphone. What if we could use AI and facial recognition to pre-program ‘safe’ visitors or allow an elderly person to unlock the door from wherever they are in the house?

Motion detection can track movement within the home. If the resident has been sedentary for a prolonged period of time, a caregiver or family member can be alerted.

Other benefits are automatically turning off an accidentally forgotten cooker, turning on an alarm at night or locking the doors when it knows the house is empty.

A connected home can also track changes in air quality, temperature, humidity, or carbon monoxide.

What are the barriers to entry?

• Cost - with the technology for smart homes still being in the early stages, the cost can be high. The positive is that you don’t have to go for everything all in one go. IoT and smaller devices can be bought into the home incrementally. Some new build houses are now being sold with all IoT included.

• Experience with digital - Lack of instructions and guidance with new products can make them inaccessible to an individual that isn’t used to using digital. Lack of confidence may deter some people from embracing new technology.

• It takes time - setup for a lot of the items on the list such as smart cookers and security systems require professional installation which means planning and waiting.

5g connectivity

As the world progresses and becomes increasingly connected, it's important for retirement living communities to keep up with the latest technology. 5G connectivity is the next generation of wireless technology, and it offers a number of advantages over previous generations.

5G connectivity is much faster than previous generations, which is important for seniors who want to stay connected with loved ones or access information and entertainment online. It's also more reliable, so seniors can depend on it for things like medical monitoring and emergency services.

5G connectivity is also important for the future of retirement living communities. With the rise of the Internet of Things, more and more devices and appliances will be connected to the internet. This will provide seniors with greater convenience and control over their living environment, and it will allow communities to offer more personalised services.

The adoption of 5G connectivity is also important for the economic future of retirement living communities. As more and more industries adopt 5G, seniors will have access to new opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship.

Amenities

Smart gyms

Having a gym is an important part of a retirement community for many reasons. It helps keep residents active and healthy, which is crucial for maintaining their independence and quality of life. It also provides a social outlet for residents to interact with one another and stay connected. Additionally, the gym can help reduce the cost of healthcare for residents by keeping them healthy and preventing injuries.

A product called eGym offers safe, tailored fitness equipment for residents that is linked to a personalised health profile.

Voice technology

In-home voice assistants like the one from Constant Companion can provide companionship, reassurance and emergency assistance using only the person's voice if and when required. The device works with all of the same functionality as any other Alexa device with the added benefit of its own built-in Wifi and with simple voice connection to an urgent Response Centre for emergency assistance. For example, if a resident takes a fall they can simply call out from their location “Alexa, call for help” and the speaker will connect them to a human that has access to their location, medical history and emergency contact details. No Pendant or Panic Button needed