Advancing smart care for older generation in China through technological innovation

Editor's note: Wang Xiangnan is the deputy director of the Research Center for Insurance and Economic Development, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

To actively address population aging and tap into the vast potential of the "silver economy," it is essential to develop smart care for China's older generation. 

By leveraging digital and information technologies such as big data, the internet, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, blockchain and virtual reality, the goal is to promote interdisciplinary integration and technological innovation, thereby enhancing the "intelligence" level of elder-care services.

The scope for smart elder-care services and products is vast. It includes:

– Wearable devices and self-service health monitoring equipment with functions for monitoring blood pressure, blood sugar, blood oxygen, body fat and electrocardiograms help maintain the physical health of older people.

– Exoskeleton robots, rehabilitation assessments and physical rehabilitation training devices can assist older individuals in restoring their bodily functions.

– Functional compensation devices such as smart wheelchairs, bionic limbs, hearing aids and walking aids can enhance the daily quality of life for older people.

– Smart service robots equipped with features for daily companionship, entertainment and household chores can enrich the emotional lives of older people.

– Intelligent monitoring devices such as fall prevention, "anti-wandering" devices, indoor and outdoor positioning systems, bed-exit alarms, and sleep monitors can improve the effectiveness of elder care.

Furthermore, in recent years, China has made significant advances in making smart elder-care products more "senior-friendly," which has reduced the barriers to digital technology use for older individuals, addressing their reluctance and inability to use such devices.

Applying technological advancements to various elder-care activities accelerates meeting the increasing demand for elder care, promotes diversification, multi-level, and personalized services for older adults, and enhances the quality of elder care provided by individuals, families, communities and institutions. 

Meanwhile, the development of smart elder care continues to enrich the content of the elder-care industry, expand application scenarios, and achieve continuous industrial upgrades.