How is gerontechnology changing medicine?
09 Dec 2021
"Gerontechnology is a multidisciplinary approach at the crossroads of gerontology and technology. It offers a real help to carers, provided that some guidelines are put in place.
Artificial intelligence as a new chapter in gerontechnology
For example, the ISA fall detection system records 3D footage of each fall.
This makes it possible for care teams to contextualise falls and better understand them so that they can be prevented from happening again.
In addition to helping institutions to improve the care of people, artificial intelligence records each fall scenario to eventually be able to distinguish risky behaviour and anticipate falls.
The issue of older people's ownership and informed judgement
Whatever they are, these so-called gerontechnological devices require the support of the elderly. According to the late Professor Jean PETERMANS (Geriatric Service) and Mr Daniel GILLAIN (Service des Informations MédicoEconomiques -SIMÉ) of the University Hospital of Liège:"A learning process is necessary and conditioned not only by their cognitive capacities, but also by stereotypes that too often present the elderly as being unable to evolve with the times. The emotional part is also important and therapeutic education must exist as in any treatment. The problems of privacy, medical confidentiality and ethics are also of major importance in the development and use of these techniques.
It is therefore essential to create a real relationship of trust and partnership between the health care teams, the people at risk of falling and their families.
Privacy and new technologies
Another important issue is the respect of privacy. This includes the principle of proportionality, according to which, in the context of a system that records information, the extent of the recording and monitoring should be proportionate to the benefits that the person derives from it. The patient or resident must therefore be informed about what data is being collected, for what purpose, in compliance with the GDPR.To preserve the privacy of individuals, the images of the ISA system, for example, are recomposed by point clouds of different colours: the furniture is coloured green, the floor blue and the patient red.
In conclusion: gerontechnologies should not replace but support the work of carers
To have the opportunity to act, you have to be able to see the problem. Carers and doctors do not have enough eyes to see everything. Of course, we need to be able to increase the medical supply, but considering the ageing of our population, we will be overwhelmed at some point. This is where fall detection technology comes into its own.During night shifts or during the Covid 19 crisis, for example, gerontechnologies can support the work of carers by increasing the residents' sense of security.
