Crisis 2030: Aging at Risk

This thesis analyzes critical issues affecting the older adult population of the United States in the year 2030 and recommends policies needed to remedy them. In the first chapter, the thesis addresses the upcoming aging crisis of the baby boomer population, both in numbers and affordability. The second chapter further describes and analyzes the major problems affecting the baby boomer population. The third chapter examines how technology can provide a universal and friendly design for older adult users. Chapters four through seven illustrate four distinctive case studies of Baby Boomers living in the year 2030. The case studies provide resolutions to the issues presented in chapter two. The eighth chapter recommends an integrated set of policies dealing with technology, health care, and home care, which are emphasized in the case studies. In conclusion, the thesis argues for policy changes that should begin to be crafted today in order to be implemented and to achieve the future scenarios depicted in the case studies

Architecture de contrôle d'un robot de téléprésence et d'assistance aux soins à domicile

La population vieillissante provoque une croissance des coûts pour les soins hospitaliers. Pour éviter que ces coûts deviennent trop importants, des robots de téléprésence et d’assistance aux soins et aux activités quotidiennes sont envisageables afin de maintenir l’autonomie des personnes âgées à leur domicile. Cependant, les robots actuels possèdent individuellement des fonctionnalités intéressantes, mais il serait bénéfique de pouvoir réunir leurs capacités. Une telle intégration est possible par l’utilisation d’une architecture décisionnelle permettant de jumeler des capacités de navigation, de suivi de la voix et d’acquisition d’informations afin d’assister l’opérateur à distance, voir même s’y substituer. Pour ce projet, l’architecture de contrôle HBBA (Hybrid Behavior-Based Architecture) sert de pilier pour unifier les bibliothèques requises, RTAB-Map (Real-Time Appearance-Based Mapping) et ODAS (Open embeddeD Audition System), pour réaliser cette intégration. RTAB-Map est une bibliothèque permettant la localisation et la cartographie simultanée selon différentes configurations de capteurs tout en respectant les contraintes de traitement en ligne. ODAS est une bibliothèque permettant la localisation, le suivi et la séparation de sources sonores en milieux réels. Les objectifs sont d’évaluer ces capacités en environnement réel en déployant la plateforme robotique dans différents domiciles, et d’évaluer le potentiel d’une telle intégration en réalisant un scénario autonome d’assistance à la prise de mesure de signes vitaux. La plateforme robotique Beam+ est utilisée pour réaliser cette intégration. La plateforme est bonifiée par l’ajout d’une caméra RBG-D, d’une matrice de huit microphones, d’un ordinateur et de batteries supplémentaires. L’implémentation résultante, nommée SAM, a été évaluée dans 10 domiciles pour caractériser la navigation et le suivi de conversation. Les résultats de la navigation suggèrent que les capacités de navigation fonctionnent selon certaines contraintes propres au positionement des capteurs et des conditions environnementales, impliquant la nécessité d’intervention de l’opérateur pour compenser. La modalité de suivi de la voix fonctionne bien dans des environnements calmes, mais des améliorations sont requises en milieu bruyant. Incidemment, la réalisation d’un scénario d’assistance complètement autonome est fonction des performances de la combinaison de ces fonctionnalités, ce qui rend difficile d’envisager le retrait complet d’un opérateur dans la boucle de décision. L’intégration des modalités avec HBBA s’avère possible et concluante, et ouvre la porte à la réutilisabilité de l’implémentation sur d’autres plateformes robotiques qui pourraient venir compenser face aux lacunes observées sur la mise en œuvre avec la plateforme Beam+

DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF A NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION PLATFORM BETWEEN ASSISTIVE ROBOTS AND THEIR USERS

Assistive robotics will become integral to the everyday lives of a human population that is increasingly mobile, older, urban-centric and networked. The overwhelming demands on healthcare delivery alone will compel the adoption of assistive robotics. How will we communicate with such robots, and how will they communicate with us? This research makes the case for a relatively \u27artificial\u27 mode of nonverbal human-robot communication that is non-disruptive, non-competitive, and non-invasive human-robot communication that we envision will be willingly invited into our private and working lives over time. This research proposes a non-verbal communication (NVC) platform be conveyed by familiar lights and sounds, and elaborated here are experiments with our NVC platform in a rehabilitation hospital. This NVC is embedded into the Assistive Robotic Table (ART), developed within our lab, that supports the well-being of an expanding population of older adults and those with limited mobility. The broader aim of this research is to afford people robot-assistants that exist and interact with them in the recesses, rather than in the foreground, of their intimate and social lives. With support from our larger research team, I designed and evaluated several alternative modes of nonverbal robot communication with the objective of establishing a nonverbal, human-robot communication loop that evolves with users and can be modified by users. The study was conducted with 10-13 clinicians -- doctors and occupational, physical, and speech therapists -- at a local rehabilitation hospital through three iterative design and evaluation phases and a final usability study session. For our test case at a rehabilitation hospital, medical staff iteratively refined our NVC platform, stated a willingness to use our platform, and declared NVC as a desirable research path. In addition, these clinicians provided the requirements for human-robot interaction (HRI) in clinical settings, suggesting great promise for our mode of human-robot communication for this and other applications and environments involving intimate HRI

Prédiction de performance d'algorithmes de traitement d'images sur différentes architectures hardwares

In computer vision, the choice of a computing architecture is becoming more difficult for image processing experts. Indeed, the number of architectures allowing the computation of image processing algorithms is increasing. Moreover, the number of computer vision applications constrained by computing capacity, power consumption and size is increasing. Furthermore, selecting an hardware architecture, as CPU, GPU or FPGA is also an important issue when considering computer vision applications.The main goal of this study is to predict the system performance in the beginning of a computer vision project. Indeed, for a manufacturer or even a researcher, selecting the computing architecture should be done as soon as possible to minimize the impact on development.A large variety of methods and tools has been developed to predict the performance of computing systems. However, they do not cover a specific area and they cannot predict the performance without analyzing the code or making some benchmarks on architectures. In this works, we specially focus on the prediction of the performance of computer vision algorithms without the need for benchmarking. This allows splitting the image processing algorithms in primitive blocks.In this context, a new paradigm based on splitting every image processing algorithms in primitive blocks has been developed. Furthermore, we propose a method to model the primitive blocks according to the software and hardware parameters. The decomposition in primitive blocks and their modeling was demonstrated to be possible. Herein, the performed experiences, on different architectures, with real data, using algorithms as convolution and wavelets validated the proposed paradigm. This approach is a first step towards the development of a tool allowing to help choosing hardware architecture and optimizing image processing algorithms.Dans le contexte de la vision par ordinateur, le choix d’une architecture de calcul est devenu de plus en plus complexe pour un spécialiste du traitement d’images. Le nombre d’architectures permettant de résoudre des algorithmes de traitement d’images augmente d’année en année. Ces algorithmes s’intègrent dans des cadres eux-mêmes de plus en plus complexes répondant à de multiples contraintes, que ce soit en terme de capacité de calculs, mais aussi en terme de consommation ou d’encombrement. A ces contraintes s’ajoute le nombre grandissant de types d’architectures de calculs pouvant répondre aux besoins d’une application (CPU, GPU, FPGA). L’enjeu principal de l’étude est la prédiction de la performance d’un système, cette prédiction pouvant être réalisée en phase amont d’un projet de développement dans le domaine de la vision. Dans un cadre de développement, industriel ou de recherche, l’impact en termes de réduction des coûts de développement, est d’autant plus important que le choix de l’architecture de calcul est réalisé tôt. De nombreux outils et méthodes d’évaluation de la performance ont été développés mais ceux-ci, se concentrent rarement sur un domaine précis et ne permettent pas d’évaluer la performance sans une étude complète du code ou sans la réalisation de tests sur l’architecture étudiée. Notre but étant de s’affranchir totalement de benchmark, nous nous sommes concentrés sur le domaine du traitement d’images pour pouvoir décomposer les algorithmes du domaine en éléments simples ici nommées briques élémentaires. Dans cette optique, un nouveau paradigme qui repose sur une décomposition de tout algorithme de traitement d’images en ces briques élémentaires a été conçu. Une méthode est proposée pour modéliser ces briques en fonction de paramètres software et hardwares. L’étude démontre que la décomposition en briques élémentaires est réalisable et que ces briques élémentaires peuvent être modélisées. Les premiers tests sur différentes architectures avec des données réelles et des algorithmes comme la convolution et les ondelettes ont permis de valider l'approche. Ce paradigme est un premier pas vers la réalisation d’un outil qui permettra de proposer des architectures pour le traitement d’images et d’aider à l’optimisation d’un programme dans ce domaine

Settled-in: Designing for Comfort in Older Adult Congregate Housing in Oklahoma

This multi-method study explores the effect of interior design on the comfort of older adults in assisted living and proposes an interior design prototype for an assisted living resident room for an older adult in Oklahoma. The research includes a survey of older adults (n=25), which asked participants to evaluate certain interior design features in terms of their effect on the participants' comfort and dignity, as well as site tours of existing assisted living facilities in Oklahoma. A design prototype was developed based on the survey and tour results, which was refined after evaluation by a focus group of experts in the area of older adults and older adult housing. Survey results indicated that older adults believed certain interior design features were more supportive of their comfort and dignity. The proposed design supports the comfort of older adult residents through the use of smooth textures, warm temperatures, cool colors, sunlight, and vegetation. The design supports the dignity of older adult residents through the use of high ceilings, smooth textures, warm temperatures, cool colors, bright light, sunlight, and vegetation. Depression and isolation were addressed through the inclusion of semi-private spaces and areas for entertaining and hosting. Loss of mobility was addressed through the use of accessible design features and the inclusion of opportunities for physical exercise. Dementia issues were addressed through the use of transparency and a simple floor plan. The intentional incorporation of environmental support for not only the physical and mental challenges faced by older adults in assisted living, but also the more subtle challenges to their comfort and dignity, has the potential to greatly improve the quality of life enjoyed by these individuals.Department of Design, Housing and Merchandisin

‘After mealtime is before mealtime’: an ethnographic exploration of nursing home residents’ practices of dealing with meal requirements

Background: In nursing homes, food is part of the care provided to residents, causing it to be strictly organised within the institutional framework. Moreover, once food has been integrated into the institutional logic, structural and economic aspects regarding organisation of food and eating may dictate individual and social needs, as a theoretical perspective informed by Goffman’s notion of the ‘total social institution’ suggests. This paper describes nursing home residents’ practices of dealing with meal requirements in two Austrian nursing homes, to understand how food integrates into the daily routine and how the institutional setting influences the social and material arrangement of food. Methods: An ethnographic design was chosen to gain an in-depth understanding. Two urban nursing homes were studied over 21 months (approx. 800 h of participant observation and ethnographic interviews collected). Data analysis took place iteratively, following Grounded Theory strategies. Results: As the thick descriptions resulting from this procedure show, observing everyday practices of eating in nursing homes reveals complex dimensions of residents being subject to institutional logics, and also demonstrates that residents develop elaborate strategies to deal with the institutional circumstances. Conclusion: A better understanding of the resulting tensions between the restrictions of living in a formal organisation and the agencies of residents described, may contribute to better understanding the effects of structural constraints and to designing more flexible processes

A Critical Analysis of Age-friendly Community Initiatives

Problem: As aging and urbanization trends converge, developing “age-friendly community initiatives” (AFCIs) has become a global movement and important policy area, aspiring to support people’s desires to age in place regardless of age, income, or ability level. This project interrogated how AFCIs have been operationalized in practice and in the lived experiences of older people. Methods: Situational analysis was a theory-methods package used to compare the conceptual frames undergirding AFCIs with expert knowledges and lay perspectives. Historical and literature reviews, participant observations, and semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with thirteen AFCI experts and seventeen older adults asked to chronicle their everyday lives using disposable cameras. Findings: The rational dreams of AFCIs and material realities of aging in place are misaligned. Older adults elucidated a moving tension between the daily interiority of identity and contingencies of a changing environment that produces a sensation characterized as the uncanny. The vicissitudes of life and precariousness of their positionalities exposed tactics for “passing” as creative forms of resistance to their expulsion from society. This revealed how there are normative structures around which formal systems or institutions involved with AFCIs could impinge upon older adults; highlighting society’s interest in ensuring they remain healthy and safe, lest they be a threat to themselves or burden on others. This project illuminated how aging in place finds meaning through the quotidian; the mundanity of this work is the crux of its poignancy. AFCIs form a biopolitical paradigm because they not only seek to rework boundaries between bodies and environments, they operate as modes of individual and population governance for the sake of health; yet, struggle to find ways to preserve the inclusion of older people in the ongoing social system. This project contributes to gerontological discourse and has theoretical and policy implications for aging in place inequities

Soluciones TIC para envejecimiento activo y saludable en el hogar, en el puesto de trabajo y en la sociedad

[SPA] Esta tesis doctoral se presenta bajo la modalidad de compendio de publicaciones.La presente tesis doctoral compendia las publicaciones resultado de varios años de trabajo en el marco de tres líneas de investigación relacionadas con envejecimiento activo y soluciones e-health y Ambient Assisted Living para la población de edad más avanzada: Mobiliario inteligente y espacios inteligentes, envejecimiento activo y saludable, y soluciones de las Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones (TIC) enfocadas al cuidado de la salud en general y a las personas mayores en particular. Dichos trabajos muestran los resultados de un análisis del estado del arte, patentes y otros, para poder establecer una definición precisa del concepto de Mobiliario Inteligente con el objetivo de destacar sus propiedades en cuanto a funcionalidad y al elemento digital activo y conectado. Además, es necesario destacar que el mobiliario inteligente debe ser considerado como un ente integrado en el concepto de ciudades inteligentes o calidad de vida. Por ello la investigación del estado del arte se centra en envejecimiento de la población activa, tendencias recientes, direcciones futuras y envejecimiento en el trabajo. El objetivo es poder extraer conclusiones en cuanto a los principales problemas de motivación y proponer respuestas eficaces que apoyen el envejecimiento en el trabajo y soluciones e-health que permita a la población senior vivir de manera independiente durante más tiempo a través, tanto de una arquitectura IoT de bajo rango para ayudar a abordar los retos de despliegue de servicios e-health en áreas rurales, como de un sistema de teleasistencia basado en el cuidado proactivo, el envejecimiento activo, la prevención y las necesidades de los usuarios y sus entornos. [ENG] This doctoral dissertation has been presented in the form of thesis by publication. The present doctoral thesis summarises a set of publications resulting from several years of work within the framework of three research lines on active ageing and e-health solutions and Ambient Assisted Living for the ageing population: Smart furniture and Smart habitats, active and healthy ageing and Information and Communication Technology solutions focused on health care in general and on the adult population in particular. Such works show the results of an analysis of the state of the art, patents, and others, to establish a precise definition of the concept of Smart Furniture to highlight its properties in terms of functionality and the active and connected digital element, and to underline that smart furniture must be considered as an integrated entity in the concept of Smart Cities or Quality of Life. For this reason, the state-of-the- art research focuses on the aging workforce, recent trends, future directions, and aging at work. The aim is to draw conclusions on the main motivational issues and to propose effective responses that support the concept of aging at work, as well as e-health solutions for the senior population to live independently for longer through both, a low-range IoT architecture to help address the challenges of deploying a e-health system in rural areas, and a tele-assistance system based on proactivity, prevention, and users’ needs and their environments.Esta tesis doctoral se presenta bajo la modalidad de compendio de publicaciones. Está formada por un total de cuatro artículos. Artículo 1.-: Krejcar, O., Maresova, P., Selamat, A., Melero, F. J., Barakovic, S., Husic, J. B., Herrera-Viedma, E., Frischer, R., & Kuca, K., 2019. Smart furniture as a component of a smart city—definition based on key technologies specification. IEEE Access, volumen 7. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2927778. Artículo 2.-: Barakovic Husic, J., Melero, F. J., Barakovic, S., Lameski, P., Zdravevski, E., Maresova, P., Krejcar, O., Chorveb, I., Garcia, N.M, & Trajkovik, V., 2020. Aging at Work: A Review of Recent Trends and Future Directions. International journal of environmental research and public health, volumen 17 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17207659. Artículo 3.-: Dimitrievski, A., Filiposka, S., Melero, F. J., Zdravevski, E., Lameski, P., Pires, I. M., Garcia N.M., Lousado, J.P. & Trajkovik, V., 2021. Rural Healthcare IoT Architecture Based on Low-Energy LoRa. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public health, volumen 18. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147660 Artículo 4.-: Melero, F. J., Bueno, M.V., Martínez, R., Maestre, R., Beteta, M.A., Puebla, T., Bleda, A.L., Sánchez, G., Pérez, R. & Álvarez, M., 2022. Design and Development of a Heterogeneous Active Assisted Living Solution for Monitoring and Following-up with Chronic Heart Failure Patients in Spain. Sensors, Volumen 22, https://doi.org/10.3390/s22228961Escuela Internacional de Doctorado de la Universidad Politécnica de CartagenaUniversidad Politécnica de CartagenaPrograma de Doctorado en Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicacione

SHELDON Smart habitat for the elderly.

An insightful document concerning active and assisted living under different perspectives: Furniture and habitat, ICT solutions and Healthcare

Caring by Telecare? A Hermeneutic Study of Experiences among Older Adults and Their Family Caregivers

Author's accepted manuscript.This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Karlsen, C., Moe, C. E., Haraldstad, K. & Thygesen, E. (2018). Caring by telecare? A hermeneutic study of experiences among older adults and their family caregivers. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 28(7-8), 1300-1313., which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14744. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.acceptedVersio