Reference no: EM132215524
Case Study: Smart Homes with Technologies for Community-Dwelling Adults
In a “smart” medical home, technological and medical innovations are integrated into a home or an apartment with the goal of helping residents to manage their health and ill- nesses. A smart medical home is equipped with scanners, sensors, computers, cameras, and appliances that double as medical devices. The close monitoring provided in a smart home enables the person living in the home and her physician and other caregivers to track vital statistics, the onset of symptoms, medication intake, potential for injuries or falls, and exercise and sleeping patterns, among other health-related indicators. When necessary, immediate intervention can be given or preventive measures taken. The role of these tech- nologies is to empower adults so they can engage in self-management for independent living and minimize their caregivers’ stress. Once the smart home is completed and perfected, it could serve as a model for future independent living by older adults and people with dis- abilities (Tomita et al. 2010).
1. In the future, how receptive will adults be to living in smart homes?
2. How can the technology in smart homes help prevent individuals from returning to the hospital after having a medical procedure?
3. What legal or ethical issues could emerge, if any, related to individuals living in smart homes?
4. What recommendations would you make to secure financing for expansion of the technologies being tested in smart homes?