The aging population has high rates of chronic diseases and many health problems at the same time. A recent review from Ageing Research Reviews says that about 92% of older adults have at least one chronic disease. Over 81% of people aged 85 and older have several chronic conditions. These facts put a big strain on healthcare systems. New ways are needed to support care that is personal, ongoing, and efficient.
Hospitals and healthcare providers face many challenges. They need to manage chronic illnesses, prevent falls, support mental health, and help seniors stay independent. The old way of care is changing to include digital health tools. Many of these use AI and offer personal monitoring and help for elderly patients both in clinics and at home.
Smart technology means devices and systems that can watch, study, and sometimes predict health needs. They use data and AI programs. This includes wearable devices, home sensors, AI companions, and telehealth services. These work together to give better care for seniors.
Wearables are popular for tracking vital signs like heart rate, blood sugar, sleep quality, and movement all the time. These devices collect real-time data. This helps healthcare providers find early signs of illness or health problems. For example, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) help manage diabetes, which is common in older adults. A study in Nature Medicine shows that wearables like smart socks and ECG sensors provide ongoing heart monitoring and fall detection. This can keep patients safer and lower emergency visits.
Smart homes have sensors and voice assistants that help seniors live on their own. These systems check daily activities and the home to spot emergencies like falls or behavior changes. They can send alerts to caregivers or doctors right away. Smart locks and video cameras improve safety, especially in senior living places.
These smart systems also make daily tasks easier for seniors with limited movement. This helps them stay in their homes longer. As a result, hospital stays and nursing home moves can go down. Many seniors prefer to age in place.
AI-driven companion robots offer emotional support, brain stimulation, and social interaction. Research from Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) shows that AI robots made for children have been adapted to help elderly patients. These robots learn to customize how they interact. They help reduce loneliness and remind seniors to take medicine or do exercises.
Many seniors feel lonely, and that can make health worse. AI companions help with emotional health beyond physical care.
AI does more than power devices. It changes how healthcare systems work. AI programs study large data sets — like electronic health records (EHR), wearable data, and health stats — to create custom care plans, improve diagnosis, and predict risks.
NCKU’s Medical Device Innovation Center made AI fitness tools that check seniors’ physical health and design personalized exercises. These tools use big data and AI to create workouts that build strength, balance, and heart health. These things help prevent falls and improve wellness. In the U.S., similar tools can help fitness programs in clinics and community centers. This can help seniors stick to their exercise routines.
AI helps improve emergency departments and critical care management. A project between NCKU Hospital and tech company Qisda created a smart emergency management system. It uses AI to improve patient flow, organize information, and help staff communicate better. This makes emergency care better for patients.
One new feature is the e-paper bedside card in intensive care units (ICUs). It organizes important patient information efficiently. This reduces mistakes and helps doctors and nurses work better together. U.S. hospitals could use similar technology to reduce stress for staff and improve care for seniors in emergencies.
Remote monitoring is becoming very important, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic showed the need for telehealth. Wearables and sensors let doctors watch seniors’ health without in-person visits. This helps seniors who have trouble traveling or moving.
Telehealth offers video visits that are easy and less expensive. Seniors can get quick advice, check medicines, and manage diseases without leaving home. These digital tools help detect health changes early and offer timely care.
AI helps healthcare administrators and IT managers by automating workflow. In busy clinics and hospitals, AI can handle front-office phone calls. This improves how things run and makes patients happier.
Companies like Simbo AI use AI to automate phone calls. These systems answer common patient questions about appointments, medication refills, and general info. They use natural language processing to understand and respond accurately.
This reduces pressure on front desk staff. They can focus on more complex patient needs instead of answering many phone calls. It also lowers wait times and makes sure no calls go unanswered. This is important for elderly patients who may find phone menus hard to use.
AI platforms can connect call data with patient EHRs. This keeps communication clear and up to date. It helps doctors make better decisions and improves teamwork, especially when seniors see many specialists.
By automating regular office tasks, AI lets doctors and nurses spend more time with patients. Automation helps with appointment reminders, billing questions, and test results. This makes the patient experience smoother. In geriatric care, where care plans are often complex, good communication is very important.
AI and smart technology are helping change healthcare to be more patient-centered, data-driven, and connected for seniors. The U.S. health system can improve care quality and efficiency by:
The rising number of older adults will speed up these changes. It’s important to have scalable, fair, and effective tech solutions for U.S. healthcare providers.
By using AI and smart healthcare technology carefully, medical practice leaders in the U.S. can solve current and future challenges in senior care. This can improve health outcomes and make operations smoother, ensuring seniors get the care and help they need quickly and in a friendly way.
The geriatrics hospital will introduce smart technology to create a ‘hospital without walls’, enhancing patient-centered medical care through AI and IoT collaborations, while featuring 440 beds and facilities for research and education.
The AI companion robot, developed for family doctor care teams, utilizes deep learning to deliver personalized assistance and improve user-friendliness for elderly patients, thereby enhancing their care experience.
NCKU’s Surgical Skills Development Center integrates 3D technology and virtual reality to bridge the gap between traditional teaching and clinical applications, enhancing students’ understanding of complex procedures.
With Taiwan becoming an aged society, developments like the intelligent fitness system aim to provide personalized health assessments and remote monitoring using AI, focusing on promoting fitness and wellness among seniors.
The intelligent fitness system offers assessments, interactive guidance, and a remote system that personalizes fitness regimens for the elderly using AI and big data, ensuring a tailored health approach.
This system streamlines emergency processes, enhances patient experiences, and organizes critical information, ultimately improving medical efficiency and the quality of care in emergency and ICU settings.
NCKU collaborates with various ICT companies to co-develop smart healthcare services, emphasizing an interdisciplinary approach that integrates AI with medical and health technologies.
The goal is to enhance the quality of care, increase efficiency, and improve the patient experience for elderly individuals through personalized, intelligent solutions.
AI-driven big data analytics provide innovative methods for remote health promotion, offering personalized health interventions that enhance the quality of life for senior patients.
The e-paper bedside card uses AI technology to organize ICU information efficiently, improving communication for emergency treatment and enhancing relationships between doctors and patients.
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