1. PROFESSOR GREG TEGART AM FTSE
IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing
May 29 2012, Prague
1

2. 2

3.  Most people want to live independently
 Longer –lived people have increased
disabilities
 Longer-lived people have more chronic
diseases
 Shortages of carers-both formal and informal
 Spending on health care for aged to increase
several fold
 Need new approach based around technology!
3

4.  Ageing-in-place is the ability to live in one’s own
home – wherever that might be – for as long as
confidently and comfortably possible.
 Liveability can be extended through the
incorporation of universal design principles,,
telecare and telehealth, and other assistive
technologies.
 Such technologies support communication and
engagement, health and wellness, home safety
and security, intellectual stimulation, and
contributing to society.
4

5.  Wide range of products from simple to complex systems
exist for safety and security; diagnostics and treatment;
social connectedness; mobility
 Numerous trials indicate substantial benefits in quality of life
through increased communication and empowerment of
patients, reduction of admissions to hospitals, reduction of
demands on high cost institutions, reduction of morbidity
 However market penetration limited in existing cohort of
elderly people although they are generally comfortable with
TV and computers, mobile phones etc. Need to ensure that
technology is tailored to needs of users!
 Many opportunities for development of new technologies
5

6.  Elderly-friendly homes-central component of ageing-in-
place; systems for movement control, simple
communication devices, medication monitoring
 Falls prevention-major cause of accidental injury and
hospitalisation; systems for monitoring gait, better
environmental design
 Communication and social interaction-essential to
maintain quality of life; mobile phones, Internet,
animated agents for dementia sufferers
6

7.  Telehealth-use of ICT to support remote health care,
particularly ageing-in-place; range of diagnostic
devices linked to central system for health
management
 Coping with degenerative diseases- increased
numbers of elderly old; dementia- tracking systems,
hearing- cochlear implant, vision- bionic eye
 Nanomedicine-improved diagnosis and treatment;
cheap and rapid biomarkers and genetic data,
biomaterials and regenerative medicine
7

8.  Biorobotics-complement to ageing-in-place; service
robots, companion robots, rehabilitation robotics
 Brain/machine interaction-coping with ageing process;
brain stimulation for epilepsy or depression, neural
replacements to assist Alzheimer’s sufferers
 Mobility systems-major issue for social interaction;
infrastructure and way-finding for pedestrians, mobility
scooters, intelligent vehicles
8

9.  That the application of smart technology for
healthy longevity is GOOD in ensuring a healthy,
safe, secure and fulfilling future for the rapidly
increasing aged population in the world.
9