Can Technology help with the Ageing Population crisis?

Digital TV software specialist, Ocean Blue Software, has released a white paper that explores the challenges facing health and social care providers, and looks at how assistive TV technology can benefit care communities, whilst reducing costs.

The paper highlights some of the issues and problems surrounding an increasingly ageing population. It also outlines how the NHS, local councils and government are striving to manage the extra pressures of debilitating conditions such as dementia, cancer and heart disease that predominately accompany old age. Will technological advances help to reduce costs, whilst offering a better choice and a greater lifestyle to the elderly and impaired?

Ocean Blue Software Ltd is developing set top box-based healthcare applications that are delivered through a digital TV and an enhanced remote control. Nearly half of older people (about 4.6 million) already consider the television their main form of company.* The system, called Nexus TV™ will incorporate security features, social networking and many more functions to ensure that people feel safe in their own homes. The technology will also help to combat isolation and loneliness as users will be able to interact with the local community; this is all achieved through the television.

The paper illustrates various assistive technology applications and systems that could provide benefits to individuals and care institutions as Ken Helps, CEO of Ocean Blue Software explains: “This is about exploiting familiar technology to give the elderly and vulnerable every possible comfort and security where they most want it - in their own homes,” Helps continues “At the same time, it addresses one of the greatest challenges for the British economy – how to finance support for an ageing population”.

Associated Link: Download the report from Ocean Blue Software

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