Computer-aided home care, monitoring and therapeutic education

Since 1995, e-health has been concerned with monitoring the elderly at home, using new information and communication technologies (NICTs): intelligent cameras, position sensors, fall detectors, radars for actimetry (see Note), i.e. monitoring movements in the home... The data recorded in this way is used to define a quantitative framework which, in the light of significant deviations from normal average behaviour, can be used to identify the onset of a pathology (e.g. degenerative, such as Alzheimer's disease) or the occurrence of an acute episode (respiratory illness, fall, etc.) requiring home intervention. The benefits of such alarms are twofold:

• enable people to remain at home for as long as possible, for effective longevity in a familiar living environment;

• argue for a return home, if behavior in a specialized institution (hospital, aftercare home, EHPAD (establishment for dependent elderly people), nursing home, etc.) detects no abnormal deviation.

The ultimate aim of e-health is to enable elderly people to live at home for as long as possible, while ensuring their safety, and thus postponing the need for them to be placed in specialized institutions. This relieves the burden on relatives, facilitates the work of caregivers and reduces the overall economic burden of the elderly. The disadvantages associated with the intrusive nature of certain e-health sensors, which artificial intelligence is striving to minimize, are amply outweighed by the improvement in quality of life and the preservation of the home and family environment, ensuring that the end of life is as dignified and serene as possible.