Technology is Good for Healthy Longevity PROFESSOR GREG TEGART AM FTSE IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing May 29 2012, Prague

The World is Ageing Rapidly!

Challenges of Increased Aged Most people want to live independently Longer –lived people have increased disabilities Longer-lived people have more chronic diseases Shortages of carers-both formal and informal Spending on health care for aged to increase several fold Need new approach based around technology!

Critical Role of Ageing –in-Place; At Home but not Alone Ageing-in-place is the ability to live in one’s own home – wherever that might be – for as long as confidently and comfortably possible. Liveability can be extended through the incorporation of universal design principles,, telecare and telehealth, and other assistive technologies. Such technologies support communication and engagement, health and wellness, home safety and security, intellectual stimulation, and contributing to society.

Older People and Home Care Health Technology Wide range of products from simple to complex systems exist for safety and security; diagnostics and treatment; social connectedness; mobility Numerous trials indicate substantial benefits in quality of life through increased communication and empowerment of patients, reduction of admissions to hospitals, reduction of demands on high cost institutions, reduction of morbidity However market penetration limited in existing cohort of elderly people although they are generally comfortable with TV and computers, mobile phones etc. Need to ensure that technology is tailored to needs of users! Many opportunities for development of new technologies

Security and Safety Elderly-friendly homes-central component of ageing-in-place; systems for movement control, simple communication devices, medication monitoring Falls prevention-major cause of accidental injury and hospitalisation; systems for monitoring gait, better environmental design Communication and social interaction-essential to maintain quality of life; mobile phones, Internet, animated agents for dementia sufferers

Diagnosis and Treatment Telehealth-use of ICT to support remote health care, particularly ageing-in-place; range of diagnostic devices linked to central system for health management Coping with degenerative diseases- increased numbers of elderly old; dementia- tracking systems, hearing- cochlear implant, vision- bionic eye Nanomedicine-improved diagnosis and treatment; cheap and rapid biomarkers and genetic data, biomaterials and regenerative medicine

Assistive Technologies Biorobotics-complement to ageing-in-place; service robots, companion robots, rehabilitation robotics Brain/machine interaction-coping with ageing process; brain stimulation for epilepsy or depression, neural replacements to assist Alzheimer’s sufferers Mobility systems-major issue for social interaction; infrastructure and way-finding for pedestrians, mobility scooters, intelligent vehicles

Key Message That the application of smart technology for healthy longevity is GOOD in ensuring a healthy, safe, secure and fulfilling future for the rapidly increasing aged population in the world.