Ageing in place will rely on smart technology

A report by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) suggests that Australia needs an increased focus on developing and applying smart technology so more seniors can remain at home longer.

According to the report, smart technology would ensure a healthy, safe, secure and fulfilling future for the ageing population in Australia and the maintenance of a healthy, harmonious and prosperous society.

Smart technology would also provide financial savings in aged care and medical treatment by providing early alerts to changing health patterns and by minimising falls and other accidents in the home.

“There is already a substantial investment in research and development capacity in this area in Australia but more needs to be done to maintain, strengthen and coordinate this activity and to ensure that public and private aged care authorities and organisations can effectively utilise the outcomes,” the authors wrote.

The report advises the Government to further invest in research and development in this area in order to cope with the ageing population.
 
The full report is available at http://www.atse.org.au

In the United States (US), the new catch phrase among US homeowners, according to a report in The Seattle Times is ageing in place. Instead of selling their homes and moving into retirement villages or assisted-living quarters, a growing number of older Americans are modifying their homes to make them more user-friendly as they age.

The concept has caught on so successfully, it even has its own National Ageing in Place Week, which falls on 11-16 October this year.

Karen Kassik, president of Home Accessibilities, a residential design firm that focuses on building barrier-free homes, says that “the inspiration for the firm was Ms Kassik’s experience with her own mother, who moved into her newly remodeled home in Casselberry, Florida, while recovering from foot surgery in 2002”.

Since launching Home Accessibilities in January, Ms Kassik has discovered that many features benefiting the elderly also work for young children, from lever-style door handles to low-level storage in drawers rather than overhead cabinets.

Instead of “ageing-in-place homes,” she uses the terms “multigenerational” or “universal” for the houses she designs.

The reasons for the aging in place trend are demographic, economic and cultural, said Jim Lucia, a home designer and general contractor with Lucia & Monday Architecture in Winter Park.

The baby boomers now reaching retirement age tend to be healthier and more independent than previous generations, and are not ready to give up homeownership when they retire.

The weak economy means fewer Americans can afford the move into retirement facilities, even if they manage to sell their homes in this depressed market. And among some fast growing ethnic groups, including Hispanic and Asian, it is traditional for older family members to share living quarters with the younger generations.

“We’re doing more and more remodelling for couples who want to grow old in their own home. Or we’re adding a suite onto the kids’ home,” said Mr Lucia.

“People are living longer. Many of them don’t want to be alone, or maintain a home alone. And as they age, family is becoming more important,” he said.

“I’m definitely doing more three-generation homes now than five years ago.”