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Innovations in Elder Care
Seven innovations in the area of elder care in an institutional setting include the use of robots, intergenerational programming, health and well-being monitoring through artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT), participative management, set up of neighborhoods for residents suffering from dementia, telemedicine, and the use of virtual reality systems. Further details about these innovations are provided below, while visuals are available in the provided document. We were able to provide pricing information for only four of these seven innovations, as some companies involved have not disclosed any pricing or cost details.
METHODOLOGY
Since visuals are required and articles are typically the types of sources that contain images, we began our research with a press search and looked for recently published articles that cover innovations in nursing homes or senior care facilities. This step turned up several results, but finding articles with corresponding visuals proved difficult. As a result, we conducted an image search instead and reviewed the articles the images were connected to. With this strategy, finding innovations, their descriptions, and their purposes was straightforward, and it was just the pricing that was problematic. In cases where pricing was not readily available in the article, we conducted separate press and corporate website searches for the pricing. And in cases where pricing specific to the company in the article could not be found in the public domain, we broadened the scope of our search and looked for general prices. For example, in the case of the use of virtual reality systems below, where startup Rendever was cited, we expanded our search to virtual reality systems in general as we could not find costs specific to Rendever. All in all, we were only able to find pricing information for four of the seven innovations listed. As requested, we focused more on processes rather than products.
USE OF ROBOTS
Description:
The Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo utilizes 20 distinct models of robots in caring for residents. Examples of these robots include furry seal Paro and humanoid Pepper.
Owner:
Paro was invented by Takanori Shibata, the chief research scientist at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, while Pepper is owned by SoftBank Robotics Corporation.
Purpose:
Furry seal Paro was designed for petting, while humanoid Pepper was designed to assist in activities such as conversing with facility residents and leading these residents in games and exercises. The government of Japan hopes that the Shin-tomi nursing home will serve as a model for leveraging the country's knowledge of robotics in addressing problems relating to an aging population.
Innovativeness:
Utilization of robots in senior care facilities is still low. In fact, to nurture the market for nursing care and aid robots, Japan's labor ministry recently spent 5.2 billion yen to deploy robots to 5,000 facilities across the country.
Pricing:
Robots are expensive. Paro, for example, costs around 400,000 yen in Japan and around 5,000 euros in Europe.
Visuals:
INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMMING
Description:
Senior care centers around the world are "bringing together seniors and toddlers." One example of such a center is ONEgeneration, a facility in California, that houses both children and seniors. Every day, these children and seniors are brought together to engage in intergenerational activities such as painting and cooking.
Owner:
Not relevant
Purpose:
The purpose of intergenerational programming is to help children and seniors learn and benefit from each other. As children learn about empathy and diversity from seniors, they, in turn, bring life and energy into the seniors' daily lives.
Innovativeness:
Intergenerational care is relatively new, with the concept remaining foreign to most people in the United States. Generations United, an organization championing intergenerational programming, reports that intergenerational programming's time has come.
Pricing:
At ONEgeneration, the Senior Enrichment Center suggests a donation of $2.00 per class and $2.00 per meal, while Adult Daycare charges $70.00 per day and a one-time enrollment fee of $70.00.
Visuals:
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING MONITORING THROUGH AI AND IOT
Description:
IBM and the Avamere Family of Companies have recently partnered to equip Avamere's senior care facilities with over 1,000 ambient sensors. These sensors were used to proactively track the daily activities of elders. Machine learning was then utilized to detect anomalies or changes in behavior.
Owner:
Purpose:
The health and well-being of seniors are monitored via AI and IoT, so that predictive modeling can be performed. Early detection of problems and early identification of vulnerable patients result in fewer visits to the emergency room, improved quality of life of resident, lower cost of care, and improved operational efficiency of facilities.
Innovativeness:
Pricing:
Neither Avamere nor IBM has disclosed the cost of the project.
Visuals:
TUBBEMODELEN (BOTTOM-UP, PARTICIPATIVE MANAGEMENT)
Description:
Tubbemoddelen is a bottom-up, participative management model that originated in Swedish nursing homes. In a nursing home that employs this model, staff and residents work together in managing the nursing home. Residents are involved at all levels of planning and management. One example of an institution that utilizes this model is the Tubberödshus retirement home, where management of the home is led by the residents, with support from the staff.
Owner:
Not relevant
Purpose:
This method of management is aimed at making seniors feel that the nursing homes they reside in are their own home. It is inspired by Danish teacher Tyra Frank's motto that "as long as one is alive, one should live."
Innovativeness:
The participative management model was described as "innovative" by AGE Platform Europe, a non-profit organization representing older persons in Europe.
Pricing:
The fee that the Tubberödshus retirement home charges is not publicly available.
Visuals:
SETUP OF NEIGHBORHOODS
Description:
Neighborhoods or dedicated areas for residents with dementia are set up within facilities, so that these residents can have continued independence and freedom despite risk of injury. Unlike other long-term care homes where residents with dementia are sedated or confined to their rooms to reduce the risk of injury, residents in facilities with 'neighborhoods' have the freedom and choice to live how they desire to live.
Owner:
The Sherbrooke Community Center in Canada is one of the few facilities adopting this arrangement of continued independence, according to the Alzheimer's Society.
Purpose:
The purpose of this type of setup is to prevent suffering due to malaise, frustration, helplessness, loneliness, and boredom among residents of elder care institutions.
Innovativeness:
As noted by the Alzheimer's Society, only a few institutions are exploring this approach. Sherbrooke, in particular, has been celebrated for giving its residents greater flexibility.
Pricing:
It appears Sherbrooke did not spend much in implementing this approach. Just like other senior care facilities in Canada, Sherbrooke is publicly supported. It has the same staff headcount as other senior care facilities in the country.
Visuals:
TELEMEDICINE
Description:
Seniors residing in elder care facilities in New York can now utilize telehealth services as need arises, as a result of Governor Cuomo signing a related bill into law. Sponsored by Assemblywoman Jenne, the bill expands telehealth or telemedicine services to elder care facilities across the state.
Owner:
Not relevant
Purpose:
In this case, the purpose of these telehealth services is to improve access to healthcare, reduce travel or commute time, and encourage routine medical consultations. Seniors no longer have to worry about making difficult trips to the doctor.
Innovativeness:
Telemedicine in senior care facilities can be regarded as an innovation in New York, as it was only in recent times that the bill allowing residents of senior care facilities to use telehealth services was signed into law.
Pricing:
Medical devices used in telehealth services costs up to $10,000 or more, while the monthly subscription fee costs around $100 to $299. A telehealth visit, on the other hand, costs around $79 on average.
Visuals:
USE OF VIRTUAL REALITY SYSTEMS
Description:
A virtual reality system designed specifically for seniors in an assisted living facility won the MIT Sloan Healthcare Innovations Prize in 2017. Also, the Google Earth Virtual Reality Program has been utilized in a way that seniors can relive memories.
Owner:
Startup Rendever was the one that developed the system that own the MIT Sloan Healthcare Innovations Prize.
Purpose:
Virtual reality systems designed for use by the elderly aim to improve quality of life. They can help seniors connect with loved ones in a more immersive manner, and they can provide "cognitive therapy and protections against dementia." They can also be used as therapeutic treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
Innovativeness:
The use of virtual reality systems in senior care facilities is innovative, as evident from Rendever winning the MIT Sloan Healthcare Innovations Prize.
Pricing:
The virtual reality headset alone costs around $200 to $400, and a total of around $800 need to be shelled out for a meaningful virtual reality experience.
Visuals: