Intelligent agent model for remote support of rural healthcare for the elderly

With the aging population, the number of individuals requiring long-term care is expected to dramatically increase in the next twenty years, placing an increasing burden on healthcare. Many patients are admitted to assisted living facilities at a fairly early stage due to their inability to perform normal daily living activities. The purpose of this study is to determine if the use of technology for both monitoring and intervention can permit elderly patients to remain in their homes for longer periods of time with the benefit of the comfort of familiar surroundings while at the same time reducing the burden on caregivers. In addition, remote access to healthcare can improve monitoring of the patient's physical and mental condition and involve the patient in his or her own care. The home monitoring and intervention system is based on intelligent agent methodology developed by the authors.