The vision of ageing at home and the dual needs
As the world enters an aging society, Taiwan’s aging rate is particularly striking, and the demand for long-term care is rising. Against this backdrop, “ageing-in-place” or “aging in place” has become the aspiration of the vast majority of the elderly. However, the traditional home-based care model faces multiple challenges such as manpower shortages, cost pressures, heavy burden on family caregivers, and loneliness and social isolation that the elderly may face.
To address these challenges, artificial intelligence (AI) technology has emerged, not only revolutionizing home care, but also creating a new model of “Patient Care Companion Services”. AI is no longer limited to health monitoring and safety protection, but also extends to provide emotional support, social interaction and cognitive stimulation, aiming to meet the physical, psychological and social needs of the elderly, so that ageing at home is not only safe and independent, but also full of warmth and connection.
At the heart of AI-powered home care and companion services: technology empowers physical and mental well-being
At its core, AI-driven home care and companion services are the use of smart technology to empower the elderly, family caregivers, and professionals to enhance independence, safety, comfort, and emotional connection in home life, rather than replacing the indispensable warm interactions between people21. This pattern integrates a number of key technologies:
- Home Sensing and Internet of Things (IoT): Through contactless sensors (e.g. activity sensing floor mats, smart mattresses, infrared/radar sensors), wearable devices (e.g. smart watches/wristbands32) and smart home appliances, a comprehensive home data collection network is formed to continuously monitor the activities, physiological status and environmental safety of the elderly.
- Health Data Analysis and Prediction: AI algorithms analyze the collected data to identify health risks (e.g., falls, worsening chronic diseases, cognitive decline) and provide early warnings for preventive, personalized home health management.
- Virtual Assistants & Social Robots : AI-powered virtual assistants (e.g., Alexa, Google Assistant) and social/companion bots designed for seniors (e.g., ElliQ, PARO, PECOLA) are at the heart of companion services. They utilize natural language processing (NLP) and emotion recognition technologies to provide conversational interactions, emotional support, cognitive stimulation, and task reminders.
- Home security protection technology: This includes AI fall detection systems using computer vision or sensors, smart door locks, and environmental hazard detection (e.g., gas and fire) to build a comprehensive home safety net.
Diverse applications of AI in home care and companion services
AI technology is integrating smart care and warm companionship into the home life of the elderly in the following ways:
- Round-the-clock health monitoring and alerts: Continuously monitor heart rate, blood pressure, sleep quality, activity level, and more at home with non-invasive sensors or wearable devices. AI analyzes data to detect abnormalities or potential risks (e.g., irregular heartbeats, signs of infection, increased risk of falls) early and notify family members or healthcare workers for preventative care.
- Smart Security Guardian Network: The AI Fall Detection System automatically alerts you in the event of an accident within a very short period of time. Features such as smart fences and bed-out alarms provide additional protection for the elderly with dementia or reduced mobility. Virtual assistants can also assist with emergency calls.
- Intimate life butler: Virtual assistants or home robots can actively remind the elderly to take their medications, drink water, exercise, and follow up on time. They can also help manage daily trips, control smart home appliances, handle online shopping or bill payments, etc., reducing the burden of memorization and handling chores for the elderly.
- Warm AI companions: Social bots and virtual assistants are great tools for coping with loneliness in the elderly. They provide companionship through natural conversations, sharing stories, playing music, playing interactive games, and more. Some advanced systems are better able to identify and respond to the emotions of the elderly, providing more empathetic interactions. Studies have shown that these interactions significantly reduce loneliness.
- Brain Fitness Trainer: AI-powered cognitive training games and apps can provide personalized mental training activities to help maintain or improve cognitive functions such as memory and attention, and delay dementia symptoms. Social robots can also achieve cognitive stimulation through interactive games and nostalgia therapy.
- Seamless communication bridges: AI technology can facilitate communication between seniors, their families, and their care teams. For example, an AI system can automatically aggregate the daily activities and health data of an elderly person and generate a report for family members or remote medical teams to refer to. AI translation helps overcome language barriers.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations: A Prudent Approach to Smart Home Care
Although AI home care and companion services have great prospects, the following challenges and ethical considerations need to be carefully faced in the process of promoting and adoption:
- Boundaries of privacy at home: The deployment of sensors and surveillance devices in intimate home spaces raises concerns about the invasion of personal privacy (visual, auditory, activity data). How to balance security needs and privacy respect is the primary issue. Data needs to be secured, anonymized, and with the full informed consent of elders and their families.
- Maintenance of autonomy: While AI’s monitoring and recommendation capabilities can improve safety, it can also overly interfere with the lifestyle of the elderly and limit their autonomy. AI should be used as an aid, and the final decision-making power should remain in the hands of the elder or someone they trust.
- The ethical dilemma of AI companions: Can AI companions provide a “real” emotional connection? Does over-dependency exacerbate social isolation or create unhealthy attachments? Is there a risk of deception (especially for people with cognitive impairments) or emotional indulgence? These need to be explored and regulated.
- Technology Acceptance and Digital Gap: Older people may resist using AI technology due to unfamiliarity, complexity, distrust or unneed. There is a need for friendlier design, adequate educational support, and attention to digital disparities that may be caused by differences in economic or educational attainment.
- Cost & Accessibility: The cost of AI devices and services can be a barrier for many households, limiting access to technology. More affordable models such as leasing or subscription need to be explored.
- The value of human interaction: It’s important to be wary of issues where over-reliance on technology can lead to a decrease in real human interaction. AI should complement, not replace, the unique emotional connections and care that family, friends, and professional caregivers can provide.
Putting people at the center to create a new future of home care
AI-driven home care and patient care companion services are opening a new chapter in realizing the vision of “ageing at home”. It can not only enhance the independence and safety of the elderly’s home life, but also alleviate loneliness and promote physical and mental health through intelligent companionship and interaction. Learn more about the practice of Patientsforce care in senior care.
