Active ageing and technology

The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank

dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.

Active Ageing, Assistive Technologies & Reducing the Cost of Care for Older People

David Sinclair, International Longevity Centre -

UK



The role for new technologies

135 years ago– first two way

phone call made

In 2000 – ½ world had never

owned a phone

By 2007 ½ the world had a

mobile phone

It took 75 years for telephones

to reach 50 million users

It took 4 years for the internet to

reach 50 million



Google knows! Location Based Services



My Society/Fixmystreet.com



Tripadvisor for Care Homes



Ocado for care



Technology to facilitate active ageing

Volunteering

Gradual Retirement

(slithers of time)

Opportunities for fun

Opportunities to

participate in societyhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/richardstubbs/5933679919/sizes/m/in/photostream/



Web facilitating access to Information and Advice

• More confident consumers of care with raising

expectations rather than patients• More tests available online/instant response

(telehealth/care/monitoring)• Greater access to information about conditions

(accuracy?)• Expectations to become more focused on “fix it”,

prevent it, cure it?• Growth in health tourism. What about care tourism?

(Travelodge/recuperation in Spain)



Challenge 1: Usability



Usability



Challenge 2: Motivating and inspiring the older population

“But how much smaller do

we want a phone?”

Some/many do want new

technology but: “I don’t

want to live in a smart-

home – I’d rather be dead” http://www.flickr.com/photos/un_photo/5832685007/sizes/z/in/photostream/



Challenge 3: Can’t continue to ignore the ethical issues

Moral and ethical debates – cant afford to ignore them

Must help older people choose technology when it is right for them (tagging/urine tests)

Privacy



Challenge 4: Technology wont tackle the fundamental problems

The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.

Bill Gates

(Let’s get the basics right first!)



Challenge 5: Digital Exclusion

Q 4 2011: 8.2 million n

Proportion of age cohorts ever having used the internet (Source: ONS)

Quarter 4: 2011:

8.2 million

never used

the internet



Challenge 6: No culture of private purchase of health/care technologies

Personalisation?

Access to

information and

advice?

But Health Apps are

biggest growth area

for Iphone.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thousandshipz/4679235/sizes/m/in/photostream/



Policy implications

Usability: Perhaps we need a legislative approach?

Or would this constrain innovation?

Inspiring and engaging the older consumer: How

can we tackle “its not for me”

Addressing ethics: Need to be more up front with

consumers about the use of technology



Complacency about technology: Technology is a

tool. But not a magic bullet.

Digital Exclusion: Do we need compulsion? Can we

nudge?

Creating a culture of private purchase: Need

healthcare technology on the BBC breakfast sofa.



Contact

David Sinclair

Assistant Director, Policy and Communications

International Longevity Centre – UK

[email protected]

Twitter.com/ilcuk

Twitter.com/sinclairda