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Gerontechnology: techniques in the service of quality of life

It is not enough to add years to life, we must also add the quality of life for years. And most innovative technologies can play a vital role to achieve this.

The average life expectancy at birth (EMDVN) is growing rapidly: at age 80 in 2010, this figure has increased 25 years during the twentieth century and arguably, for lack of better forecasts, this assumption of an increase of 3 months per year will apply to a few decades to come.

This increase is coupled with another good news: the average life expectancy at birth without disability (EMDVNSI), growing at least at the same pace as EMDVN. For cons, the average age at which we know carries a chronic disease is much earlier (40 years), as well as the average age at which it is recognized by Social Security as a carrier of a disease long duration (60 years). Above all, these two figures do not tend to decline for thirty years ... In summary, we saw more and more old, but at a given age were always the same probability of having one or more diseases, then we have a lower probability than before to be dependent. The objective of gerontology, geriatrics, it is optimization of the end of life, research from the fact that "

be autonomous until his death . It's "

add the (quality of) life to years"

primarily due to "add years to life." To achieve this goal, gerontechnology provide support assertive from year to year.

Gerontechnology WHAT IS?

the absence of a consensual definition, the gerontechnology are those that can be used for people over 60 years to support their daily activities, and improve the quality of their emotional and intellectual life: to communicate, entertain, inform, be mobile, to locate, exercise, secure environment, see, hear and follow their health working memory, manage home care services ... (See wafer

co-directed by the SFTAG, medial, and the ANFE

Gerontechnologies.net

). - It telemedicine and telecare with recording signals for monitoring blood pressure, pacemakers and rhythms of sleep stages, and of course the whole field of communication and warning with mobile portable easy to use, ultra portable computers and video telephony,

- is a smarter habitat, allowing the home support in a secure environment with all the capabilities of robotics and automation, remote alarm, fall detection, geolocation anti-fugues, without forgetting the traditional hardware such as stairlifts.

- This is the replacement of the handicaps with aid the visually impaired and hearing impaired, with auto-home rehabilitation and sensory stimulation.

- is also the full range of technologies to help caregivers and equip the special schools.

It is clear that a minimum rating in order to describe this set.

In a very general, technology must find a compromise between ergonomics accessible to elderly (not excessive miniaturization, legibility) and non-stigmatizing design ("old product").

13.7 MILLION PEOPLE AFFECTED Of the 13.7 million people aged 60 and over in France are generally divided into three distinct populations: 1

. Seniors in good health, not using more than the rest of the population care system nor the medical and social benefits (6.5 million people).

2. Chronically ill, that is to say people with a disorder of long duration (ALD) with support at 100%, but non-dependent (6 million). It would add to a population called "fragile" because of medical situations, psychological or social. But it remains to find a consensual definition of the concept of fragility.
3. Dependents, which require accurate quantification of prospective studies but initial analysis can be likened to those obtained using the custom (APA): they There are 1.2 million, half at home, and the other institution.
Finally, the 12 million hospitalizations per year complete, over a third of patients for 60 years and the incidence of hospitalizations is increasing in the three categories of patients and dependence seen above.

TECHNOLOGY ADAPTED

For seniors apparently healthy (computing, home automation, sensory aids)




The needs of seniors in good health are certainly varied, but can consider that the link social citizenship rights, security, are widespread. However, the rate of spontaneous technological equipment for seniors is lower than in other classes, whether credit cards, mobile phone, GPS positioning system, equipment computer and internet connection.

Internet connection could be regarded as the common basis for all categories. We can consider that the government has a role to play in its accessibility (wiring) and its promotion. The elderly are not consuming technology for technology. We must therefore convince them of the usefulness of the service.


P o

chronically ill (or weak) non-dependent

Any chronic illness will require monitoring and adjustment of support. The network of community care (physician, nurse, ...)

must meet the essential but we must consider that technology can provide the missing information we failed to ask these professionals, and especially to allow access to more specialized skills not available locally. In some cases, techniques Remote rehabilitation are possible.
Membership of the patient to a platform of services including telemedicine is likely to reduce travel by ambulance and hospitalization unjustified, hence the advantage that the patient has previously been familiar to Internet whose technology will just be "upgraded". Otherwise, an incentive (financial?) At this subscription should be advocated by Medicare to reduce healthcare costs.







For dependents



This needs additional compensation for disabilities, and support for caregivers. The platforms of services are there also very useful for increasing the communication time with caregivers and helpers so that the APA can not finance a small share of aid at home. We see the risk to show the technology as a substitute for human help, a way to "save" on the backs of the elderly, even a "breaker of jobs» .

It is important to be vigilant without being naive. If telemedicine works, it will cut jobs ambulance. If you find an automated way to make nappies for incontinence, it will decrease the number of workers needed help to make the exchange ... However, these acts they are carrying a gain in terms of human relationship? The answer is no. By cons, it is imperative not to seek the development of machines to replace human assistance in other acts of everyday life.


For example, a patient to eat or eat better with him is a time of conviviality and " machine to eat "is a horror. For proof, we must review

Modern Times Charlie Chaplin!

Regarding the role of technology in the hospital
, this is not the place to speak here of all the technological advances in the field of diagnostic imaging (in particular) and care (medical devices ) that have been developed in hospitals.

More interesting, is probably to watch any efforts but still insufficient, what could be the manufacturers to facilitate the accessibility of these technologies for the elderly and / or suffering from multiple illnesses or multiple disabilities.


The discomfort of a radiology table, feeling claustrophobic due to the implementation of an MRI, the absence of market power wheelchair "smart" avoiding obstacles are all examples of the necessary development of a culture "gerontechnology" in the accompanying technological innovations.

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