Building IoT Services for Aging in Place Using Standard-Based IoT Platforms and Heterogeneous IoT Products

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Computer Science
• Healthcare Technology

Background:

• Global population aging and increased longevity present healthcare cost challenges.
• Progressive brain disorders like Alzheimer's disease increase caregiver stress and depression.
• Supporting seniors to live independently at home ('aging in place') is crucial for reducing societal caregiving costs and enhancing family well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a method for constructing aging in place (AIP) services.
• To leverage standard-based Internet of Things (IoT) platforms and diverse IoT products for AIP service development.
• To design and implement an efficient service composition tool for creating AIP services.

Main Methods:

• Developed a collaborative AIP service platform by integrating existing standard-based IoT platforms.
• Created a service composition tool to facilitate efficient AIP service creation.
• Implemented a prototype medication compliance service for older adults.

Main Results:

• The prototype medication compliance service provides timely reminders via home devices (light, speaker) and mobile devices (wristband, smartphone).
• The system demonstrated practical usability for supporting independent living.
• Successfully integrated heterogeneous IoT products into a unified AIP service platform.

Conclusions:

• The proposed standard-based IoT platform and service composition tool effectively support the development of aging in place services.
• The implemented medication compliance service enhances seniors' ability to manage their health independently.
• This approach offers a scalable solution for reducing healthcare costs and improving the quality of life for the aging population.