Presenting age-tech, a technology to help older people live independently

The Indian social landscape is changing very fast. Traditional joint families have given way to nuclear setups as children move out of their hometowns in search of better opportunities. As a result, more and more seniors are living alone. Data from the government’s Longitudinal Ageing Study, 2021, suggests that 26 percent of elders above the age of 60 either live alone or with their spouse. No wonder, as they too become digitally-savvy, using their smartphones to video call their kids or order groceries online, they are also investing in gadgets that can help them stay safe and healthy.

“Age tech, essentially technology built for older people, is broadly categorised into two buckets: technology to ensure safety and health and wellness,” says Aamod Wagh, co-founder and CEO of two age tech firms, RHEMOS Health and TigerTech Smart Living.

The most common age tech products focusing on safety include wearable devices such as smartwatches, lockets, and bracelets with built-in GPS trackers to help keep track of senior family members, especially those suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Take TigerTech’s personal security device TigerTrack, which comes with a built-in phone that can enable a senior to autodial a contact in case of an emergency.

Going beyond tracking devices, another company, SeniorWorld also has an elder-friendly phone called easyfone, a telecare device that can be configured remotely by family members in case the elders encounter any issues. In fact, calls can also be initiated in speaker mode if the senior isn’t answering calls and has forgotten to take the phone off silent mode. Currently available in 2G, the company is launching its 4G version within the next three months, says Rahul Gupta, co-founder and CEO, SeniorWorld.

In fact, a key area of concern for seniors is regular monitoring of vital signs, especially blood pressure and sugar levels, to keep tabs on their health and detect anomalies in time, if any. However, nobody wants a physical assistant constantly monitoring them 24/7. Psychologically, this can be uncomfortable for them, says Kanishka Acharya, founder and CEO of Welldercare Agetech. They have introduced an AI-powered smart lamp called Nobi, which can be installed at a central vantage point in the house. Using optical sensors, it can detect and trigger an emergency response in case the senior has a fall and is unable to get up.

The company is also in the final engineering phase of a Smart Mirror that can capture vital parameters, such as blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, emotional state, and more while individuals stand in front of the mirror, perhaps during their morning routine, like brushing their teeth.

“Privacy concerns often arise with remote monitoring devices, but Nobi and the smart mirror capture data in real-time, saving and recording only abstract images, with humans anonymised and represented as stick-like figures,” assures Acharya.

The market is still nascent in India, and hence most of these service providers are tapping senior living communities to increase demand. Chennai-based assisted living firm Athulya is currently piloting the use of sensors placed under patients’ beds in its transition care facility to non-invasively monitor the vital signs of bedridden patients. Coimbatore-based retirement community CovaiCare has Alexa in the residents’ rooms, which is integrated with the elders’ phones, allowing for voice-activated alarms or emergency calls.

As technology becomes more intuitive and invisible, more elders will leverage it to connect with others, access healthcare, and live a healthier and more fulfilling life in their golden years. India Today