Background and Common Clinical Requirements

From Capsil Wiki

Introduction

The world population will grow older in the next 50 years. As the population ages, health care systems will face a number of challenges, including the need to minimise the financial impact of chronic disease and impairment on the health status of older adults, maintain their ability to live independently, and improve their quality of life. Many chronic diseases & health issues, which primarily diminish the older persons quality of life could potentially be improved or managed through the use of monitoring technology in home and community environments.

Developing technology and new interventions that emphasise prevention and proactive self-care may provide a solution to the societal need to contain health care costs while fulfilling the individual's desire to stay healthier, safer and more independent throughout their senior years.

This chapter sets the scene for the more detailed chapters to follow which will be present information on individual aspects such as Intervention systems and technology solutions. It outlines major population and health related demographics appearing globally with a focus on trends in Europe, the United States and Japan. Major healthcare related concerns will be introduced particularly those relating to chronic diseases, ageing and independent living.

The chapter concludes with a look at the more general situation across the EU and the US in terms of healthcare challenges. Obesity is an example of an issue of major health concern as well as opportunity. It also outlines general recommendations for where further work needs to happen and suggests focus areas for further R&D.