The need for proper care of the elderly is a tremendous opportunity for organizations that are looking to break into the Chinese market. While there are already many firms catering to the very wealthy, middle class and poor Chinese continue to face care that is low quality or in some cases abusive. The Chinese government has responded to the need by working across ministries to prioritise aged care issues and develop a safety net to assist elders when children are no longer able to care for them.

Is your organization working in China? We would love to hear from you. Drop us a line at iahsa@leadingage.org and let us know what care models you follow or what you perceive as quality priorities.

That was the question students in Virginia, USA were challenged to answer this past year. The request was made by Friendship Retirement Community, a care home that plans to expand in 2012. Friendship Retirement wanted to see what solutions youth would find to promote active ageing and independence. The project allows the young people to gain valuable experience and the home to benefit from innovative designs. Considerations in designing the facility include walking as a mode of transportation, developing shops that can be distributed throughout the grounds to stimulate the local economy, creating a reasonably priced facility, and including a variety of settings for sport and activities. Jim Jones, university professor at the Center for High Performance Learning Environments of Virginia Technical University said that the experience allow students to design something new, as well as test out existing knowledge.    Friendship Retirement Community plans to incorporate the best ideas and designs into its final blueprint for 34 apartments to be constructed in the coming months.

Intuitive computer interfaces: Touch screens and graphic user-interfaces have made computing devices accessible not only to frontline staff and other people who have typically not been computer users.

Wireless data communication networks: Going wireless allows staff to document at the point of care, and you know longer have to worry about tripping on cables.

Electronic health record (EHR) systems: EHRs can help staff access and document information about residents and their preferences. EHRs reduce medical errors due to difficult to decipher handwriting and clinical decision support can help ensure that care is evidence based.

Electronic records sharing: Interoperability of EHRS allows providers to document electronically and share across care settings. This can facilitate care transitions and allow physician orders to be received even before an elder arrives at the facility.

Telemedicine/telehealth: Telemedicine and telehealth allow specialists to provide consultation through video interfaces, and also allows providers to receive imaging and diagnostic information remotely.

 Behavioral/activity monitoring systems: Behavioral and activity monitoring systems can help carers keep track of what is elders are doing without intruding on the elders privacy.

Fall prevention/detection systems: Bed and chair alarms, and user-worn automatic fall detectors, have the potential to “reduce rescue time, reduce the severity of the ensuing injury and improve the outcome of a fall.”

Tracking/wander management systems: A number of technologies address wandering. “You need to balance the safety of the individual and the concern of the caregiver with the privacy of the individual,” says Alwan.

Medication adherence systems: Electronic Medication Administration Records (eMAR) are software and storage systems that allow pharmacies to electronically track inventory and staff to match patient and medication with automated medication profiles. For seniors living independently, automated medication dispensers can help with medication reminders, and prevent accidental overdose through time controlled access mechanisms.

Brain and physical fitness technologies: Intuitive technologies allow seniors to engage in virtual games and activities, stimulating their physical and mental activity on a daily basis.

Still not sure what technologies would be best for your organization? Sign up for our technology study tour and see these technologies in action.

In addition to mattresses and bedbug control, the program will provide energy efficient light-bulbs and induction ovens. The program will be executed by volunteers or by seniors who are physically capable of helping (seniors will be paid a small stipend). The program is expected to improve social lives of elders who will be able to leave their flats to attend events at day centres and also improve seniors’ ability to sleep.  It is expected that both outcomes will allow elders to stay in their current accommodations and away from care homes that are resource intensive. You can read the full story here.  Are you interested in housing with services models? Then check out our upcoming “Housing with Services Study Tour”.

India’s elderly population is growing rapidly and is projected to have a 3-fold increase between 2007 and 2050, when there will be an estimated 240 million persons over 60 years of age. However, there is currently a lag between the emerging needs of the ageing population and the development of infrastructure to provide necessary care. The partnership will help address this unmet need and aims to accelerate the creation of facilities to care for the aged.

The Director of the Assisted Living Federation of America, Steven Vick, reflected on the relationship, stating, “The Indian senior living sector is still in its infancy and is expected to grow at a rapid pace in the coming years. Senior living providers in India can learn a tremendous amount from the fits-and starts we had when senior living was in its infancy in the U.S.”

To read the complete press release from ALFA, click here.