KETTLES that track elderly people’s everyday habits, baby food for adults, supermarkets for people aged over 65 – these were just a few examples of future aged care design spouted at a panel discussion in Adelaide.
English futurist Richard Watson headlined the Future of Ageing Well panel – part of SA’s Open State ideas forum in September – which addressed important areas for technological development in the aged care sector.
Panellists discussed the Internet of Things and the international movement known as Ageing 2.0, which brings together new products and technology with design innovators and entrepreneurs to help improve life for the world’s ageing population.
“We think of ageing as a problem and I don’t see it as a problem. I see it as a series of opportunities, particularly economic opportunities,” Watson told the forum.
“If you think about kettles, you could integrate a level of intelligence that knows when an elderly person living alone normally picks it up and recognises its pattern of use.
“If the kettle hasn’t been picked up one morning it could send a message to a neighbour asking them to check up on their neighbour to see if he was OK.”
Watson said businesses had a lot to gain from designing products to meet the needs of older consumers, especially as the baby boomer generation reached retirement.
“We’re not looking for rocket science here,” he said. “Just a subtle redesign of everyday living to meet aged care needs will reap the benefits.”
Fellow panellist Mike Rungie, chief executive of aged care support service ACH Group, said misconceptions about the industry needed to change.
“We don’t need more lifting machines, surveillance technology or more nursing homes,” he said. “What we need are the kinds of products and services that enable us to live the life stage we’re in if we’re a bit more disabled than we were when we were 20.”
SA has the highest proportion of older people on mainland Australia, with nearly a third of its population aged over 50. It also tops the list of popular retirement regions, according to fresh data from consultancy firm CoreLogic.
Ageing Well
THE Ageing Well Revolution Conference, to be held in Adelaide from November 22-23, will be attended by international experts, innovators and business leaders.
Business owners, entrepreneurs, not-for-profit organisations and investors will hear about innovative ideas of how to take advantage of the economic opportunities of an ageing population.
Aimed at exploring ways to develop opportunities, there will be speakers from organisations such as IBM, Silver Chain Group, the SA Health and Medical Research Institute, the universities of Michigan and California as well as the three SA universities.
Speakers and panel discussions will cover topics such as technology and neuroscience, the internet of caring, lifelong learning, transition to retirement, the ageing workforce and career transitions, housing care models and volunteering.
