The article, sponsored by Philips, was first published in November 13 by the New Statesman. It is re-
How should we address the problems of our aging society and its impact on the NHS?
This is a problem that the minister and health professionals have been working on for a long time.
The challenge is enormous.
The needs of the elderly are complex.
One out of every four hospitalized patients has dementia, and one out of every three adults who are admitted to acute hospital is in the last year of their lives.
As life expectancy increases-by 2030, men will reach 88 and women will reach 91-demand for services will not slow.
This creates a difficult situation for the NHS, which simply does not have the ability to cope with the numbers coming from its doors.
In fact, according to A benchmark report, many hospitals reported that the increase in A & E attendance at the front end and the delay in the transfer of back-end care put tremendous pressure, in April, the NHS released the "elderly in an acute environment. "
More comprehensive medical and social care services will help, as will Sir Thomas Hughes's army of volunteers.
Hallett recently suggested that we need
The presidents of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London believe that the "health power" of volunteers can be trained to help take care of the elderly and the weak before, after and even during their stay in hospital.
However, there is a need to reduce the number of people actually using NHS services.
To achieve this goal, it is necessary to combine preventive measures to support a healthy life and a healthy life. being and self-
Care Initiatives to reduce hospital dependence.
Technology plays an important role here.
The website provides information, support and companionship at the most basic level.
For example, there is an online forum for UK carers who can ask questions and share suggestions on this forum;
Cura provides a simple, secure and shareable online calendar to help families find temporary care for their loved ones;
Grannynet supports a community of more than 3,000 grandmothers.
Smartphone apps can also help optimize personal aging.
There are about 100,000 health apps today, many of which are designed to address health inequalities, increase physical activity and a healthy diet, and enhance people's ability to control their health.
Loneliness and isolation are associated with a range of health issues, from depression to increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
To solve this problem, technology companies are developingto-
Use tools like Skype to connect seniors with their friends and relativeslike video-
Meeting facilities working through a set of equipment-
Not through the computer, but through the set-top box and remote control.
However, with the popularity of smartphones and tablets, tools such as SMS, WhatsApp, Snapchat and Instagram are becoming more and more common.
"For older people whose disease and disease have been diagnosed, assistive technology has the potential to help them manage their condition more easily," said Alan Davis, director of family health at Philips . ".
He mentioned how telemedicine, telemedicine, and telemedicine can contribute to a longer, more cost-effective life.
Provide care effectively and reduce waste of time.
"Telecom is providing remote alarm technology for people who often live in their own homes.
It can't replace body care itself, but it can reduce its regulatory factors, encourage people to be more independent, and at the same time reassure people that they can still get help when they do need it, he said.
Davis uses the example of a falling detector to illustrate the benefits of telecom.
Fall is the most common cause of injury
Deaths in the UK over 75 years of age.
It is reported that about 282,000 people fall each year and cost the NHS 2. 3bn.
Falling detector is an effective way to solve this problem.
Philips Lifeline car alert is a pendant worn around the neck.
It uses a range of sensors and algorithms that can detect when someone falls and subsequently inform the caregiver or the health team.
This allows the wearer to get medical treatment faster and has the potential to prevent further complications.
Remote Health includes remote collection of physiological trend data-for example, by monitoring vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, and blood glucose levels-all of which come from a home where the individual is comfortable.
"The most complicated thing is that it uses a series of sensors that used to need to go to the hospital.
Now, however, it can also simply represent SMS-based care-
Planning prompt tool for user to enter data manually, even preventive changes-of-behaviour-
Link to the app facing mHealth [mobile health]
Wearable sensor
Davis said: "No matter what method is used, the data collected is to be interpreted against the target or threshold, which can be used by individuals and clinicians to determine actions to improve personal health.
"It also means that individuals can go home early from the hospital through a supplementary plan --
Recuperation care.
Telemedicine provides consultation remotely via video and audio, and also reduces the need for patients to go to a hospital or general practitioner for surgery.
"Telemedicine, telemedicine and telemedicine enable patients to stay at home and give them some control measures.
For example, for chronic lung obstruction [
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Patients, if they feel anxious, can view their recent trend data against clinically defined thresholds set for them to see how the collected summary information is measured.
"If the devices show that they are within acceptable range, then this can reassure them and reduce the need to call an ambulance," Davis said . ".
"At the same time, the clinical multi-disciplinary team received the same information (MDT)
Members, who, in different weeks, see trends moving in the direction of concern, may be in contact with individuals to help them take corrective action before the situation becomes more serious.
Technologies like this can play a useful role in releasing capacity within the NHS and making better use of available resources.
"Despite the benefits that technology can bring, there are challenges, especially in terms of adoption.
Philips and the Global Social Enterprise Initiative (May 2014 (GSEI)
At the McDonough business school at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, a conference called "working on aging: creating an interconnected community for aging" was held to try to determine if smart home technology is to be adopted more widely, some of the attitude barriers that need to be overcome.
Some older Americans say they want to live in their homes as they grow older;
However, most people do not intend to take the necessary measures, such as transforming their homes or adopting smart technology.
The incident report suggests that one way to solve this problem is to focus on developing and promoting the technical tools they are familiar.
"Older Americans are willing to invest in new technologies to get what they are satisfied with and often use and benefit from it," the report said . " This also means that people will "enter the era of science and technology ".
"Product strategies are now needed to expose baby boomers to smart apps to ensure a seamless transition to more assistive intelligence technologies later," the company said . ".
The elderly are becoming more and more familiar with new technologies.
The number of internet users aged 65 and over increased by more than a quarter in a year, as the number of people using tablets tripled, ofcom disclosed in 2014.
In 2013, the proportion of people over the age of 65 on the internet reached 42.
Nevertheless, there may also be very complex needs for older people, which makes it more expensive and complex to provide the appropriate technology.
For example, a study at Blackpool Teaching Hospital found that an average of 65-year-
There are several other diseases in the elderly with diabetes.
Ensuring that remote health services meet all of these needs and are delivered in a manner that is personally understood can be a challenge. Telehealth-
Remote care supported is not suitable for each patient.
"If you have your own history
Injury or alcohol, it is difficult to provide remote technology that can improve the quality of life.
"In this case, a different approach has to be taken to set health goals, but once stabilized, the technology can be introduced to support," Davis said . ".
It is not only the elderly who can benefit from technology.
It also helps their carers. Of the 6.
Today, there are 5 million unpaid carers in the UK, and about one looks after their parents --in-law.
Technology can help reduce or eliminate some of their duties.
Tablet dispensers can help them manage their medicines, for example, while remote consultation facilities and online services allow them to connect with service providers.
It is even possible to put the GPS tracker in your shoes to help take care of people with dementia who are easily wandering and lost on their own (
Assuming that the "best interest" test was conducted or consent was provided under the Mental Health Act).
Similarly, there may be barriers to adoption.
A Georgetown University study, which is also part of Philips-backed aging well Center, shows that some caregivers unconsciously ignore the goal of fulfilling their lives as nursing recipients, instead, focus on the daily functions and practical duties.
The report states that in order to change this situation, more support and training is needed for caregivers.
Technology provides us with the opportunity to re-imagine aging and to find creative ways to address the current challenges facing our health services.
More use of the facilities mentioned here can help to stay independent and encourage cost savings. A win-
Win for everyone