Use of Technology to Enhance Care and Safety for Seniors Living Alone
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Dr Tan Wu Meng’s inquiry regarding studies conducted on using technology, such as motion sensors, to improve care for seniors living alone while maintaining privacy. Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that the Ministry of Health funded research under the National Innovation Challenge on Active and Confident Ageing, including a smart sensor system by NTU. This project improved medical adherence and reduced hospital admissions by integrating health management with homecare services. Furthermore, Minister Ong Ye Kung highlighted an ongoing study by Tan Tock Seng Hospital to develop automated sensor-enabled fall detection systems. The Government intends to continue evaluating these research projects for potential large-scale deployment to enhance elderly care.
Transcript
29 Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Health in the past five years, what studies have been undertaken regarding the use of technology to enhance care and safety for seniors living alone, including the use of motion sensor technology, to identify seniors who have fallen or become immobile, while still preserving personal privacy.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: MOH has funded several studies on using technology to enhance care for seniors at home. Under the National Innovation Challenge (NIC) on Active and Confident Ageing, we launched the Care-at-Home Innovation Grant in 2015 to enhance the efficiency and quality of care for seniors at home through technology.
One project was NTU’s Homecare and Caregiving Model for Optimising Services for the Elderly. They developed a web-based health management system integrating technology and various home care services, such as smart home sensors, medication adherence and meal planning and delivery. With the sensors, seniors felt reassured that their caregivers could be contacted immediately during emergencies. The system improved the productivity of care staff and led to better care outcomes like increased medical adherence and reduced hospital admissions.
We have also funded another study by Tan Tock Seng Hospital titled "Project Carer Matters 2" via NIC. One of the study objectives is to leverage technology to create a safe home environment for seniors, by developing an automated sensor-enabled fall detection and rescue system. The study is, currently, ongoing.
The Government will continue to explore how promising research projects can be scaled up and deployed.