The so-called healthy aging is, nowadays, one of the main objectives to be achieved both by the World Health Organization and by modern telecare worldwide. A goal based on establishing a continuous process of optimizing opportunities to maintain and improve the physical and mental health, independence and quality of life of users.
According to data from the National Institute of Statistics, in 2050, people over the age of 65 will account for almost 30% of the Spanish population (today the figure is 20% of the total population of Spain). This aging of the population, in Spain and throughout the world, requires that older people have healthy habits to improve this important stage of life so that they can fend for themselves.
Faced with this aging of the population pyramid, the WHO called on all public and private institutions to join together to take concerted, collaborative action to improve the lives of older people, their families and their communities. In 2021, they called this movement the Decade of Healthy Aging (2021-2030)..
In the telecare market, major steps are already being taken to build new pillars to help improve the lives of the elderly, understand their needs and offer them tailored services. The arrival of novel telecare devices, such as our ID Vita Home terminal, the construction of new service platforms such as IDATA Nexus, and other developments focused on the quality of services are key.
New services for healthy aging
New telecare devices, such as ID Vita Home, and their associated services incorporate new functionalities in order to improve both the functional and intrinsic capabilities of users. One of the key aspects to better understand each user and how to improve their different capabilities is the so-called perceived health (the perception that individuals have about their own health, both from a physical and psychological or sociocultural point of view). This can be measured by directly asking the user about their perception and through different indicators associated with their routines and habits.
The new telecare terminals with display allow a more reliable and direct insight into this perception and, in turn, improve the various capabilities of people through various tools.
Understanding and addressing intrinsic capacity
Intrinsic capacity comprises all the physical and mental capacities that a person may have, including locomotor capacity (physical movement), sensory capacity (vision and hearing), vitality (energy and balance), and cognitive and psychological capacity. These capabilities are interrelated and contribute to functional capacity.
On the one hand, our ID Vita Home terminal, together with our ID Vita smartwatches, contribute to continuous monitoring of the user's health status by tracking vital signs (such as blood pressure, heart rate and physical activity). Thanks to this, and the Edge Computing capabilities of ID Vita Home, early detection of health alterations is possible, providing users and medical professionals with critical information to proactively manage chronic conditions. On the other hand, our terminal allows us to provide users with activities through videos and applications to improve both their locomotor and cognitive abilities.
For improved functional capacity
Functional capacity comprises the capabilities that enable a person to be and do what is important to him or her. There are five key domains of functional ability, which environmental factors can expand (or restrict). These capabilities are: meeting basic needs; learning, growing and making decisions; being mobile; establishing and maintaining relationships; and contributing to society.
One of the main tools to help users improve their functional capacity is our AI-enabled virtual assistant. This assistant dialogues with users to help them in their daily lives by offering them different alternatives and opportunities to help them gain independence, promote their mobility and empower them in their daily lives. The terminal also facilitates the user's independence and self-care through reminders and alerts about medication or medical appointments and improves communication and access to social and health care, encouraging users to participate in their own care.
A decade for our elders
All these new innovations within the telecare sector are an important step towards achieving the objectives of the Decade of Healthy Aging promoted by the WHO. Innovations that we have already incorporated in the devices designed by Intelligent Data and that we continue to evolve in our ID Vita Home ecosystem.
The new telecare terminals with display are a new step in the market to take care of the functional and intrinsic capabilities of users. In the coming years, such advances will enable more personalized care for users and new developments for the sector.