Question

Develop a two paragraph summary of how technology can support the overall well-being of aging citizens. Include at least two of the following concepts to support your response: Telemonitoring
Telehealth
Mobile health
Medical alert systems
Smart home technology

Answer 1

Well-being is a central concept to human life. The World Health Organization lays importance to the well-being of an individual which is the right of every individual. In today’s scenario after major technological advancements especially in the field of medicine, the world has been witnessing an exuberant change in the well-being of all ages.

What do we mean by the term “Well-Being”? Well-Being is termed as “a state characterized by health, happiness and prosperity”. In other words, it is also referred to as “a good or satisfactory condition of existence.”

Thus, Well-being is an important aspect to an individual, as it determines the psychological, physical and the sociological health. The entire population are so fascinated by this, that we keep running behind things that makes us feel happy and prosperous. Nobody wants to lead a horrible life, and thus we try so much to make life seem better than ever.

Technology has been the result of a mans’ dream to achieve happiness. Technology has its place in almost all the fields. In the medical field, it has taken the vast share. Today, technology has re-defined health. The longevity of people has increased, treatments for almost all kinds of diseases are available, and life is made much easier.

Technologies like Telehealth and Smart home technologies has immensely improved the quality of life for the aging population. Telehealth is a system which is defined as “the remote exchange of data between a patient at home and their clinician(s) to assist in diagnosis and monitoring typically used to support patients with Long Term Conditions.”

   A system like this without any doubt has considerably improved the lives of people. Earlier when the transportation system was just beginning, when the technology in the medical world was modicum, access to all the medical aspects were poor. Which resulted in decreased longevity of life. But today, the benefits of telehealth provide services that assist in the management of long term health conditions, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Chronic Heart Failure (CHF), Diabetes and Epilepsy. Telehealth enables individuals to take more control over their own health, and becomes an intrinsic part of the individuals care pathway, with information about their health condition being monitored regularly to flag up issues before they become ‘care critical’. It works by monitoring vital signs, such as blood pressure, and transmitting the data, via a telephone line, or broadband, to a telehealth monitoring center or a health care professional, where it is monitored against parameters set by the individual's clinician. Evidence that vital signs are outside of 'normal' parameters, which may indicate deterioration in health, instigates an appropriate response. There is a wide range of telehealth equipment that can be used to develop a service package that is tailored to an individual’s health needs.

Another important technology that has been influential in the latter years are the Smart Home technology where everything is in the tip of the hands. To switch off the lights, to switch on the fan, to run the washing machine, to run the mixer, to control the volume, to brighten or dimmer the lights, incase you went out, but forgot to switch off the lights, everything is controlled by software applications. This, has redefined the quality of life especially for the aging population. Most of the older adults find it difficult to do these minute actions, probably because of the age factor which could make them more lethargic, but with a system as this, would just make it more easier which in turn develop a positive affect in the individual.

Thus technology play a very important role, it helps the aging population to keep fit physically, spiritually, psychologically and socially. Which is an important component of Well-Being.