The population aged 60 or above is growing at an exponential rate. Last year, the world was home to roughly 962 million elderly people, according to the United Nations' World Population Ageing Report. That is more than twice the 1980 figure, when there were only 382 million worldwide. By 2050, the number is expected to reach 2.1 billion.
Recognising that the requirements of senior citizens can be met by technology, Asst Prof Surapa Thiemjarus came up with the idea of incorporating the Internet of Things (IoT) concept into the evolution of elderly care.
"We all know fall detection sensors are important when it comes to elderly care. But what if we can detect risks prior to falls? That could save a lot of lives," said Surapa, researcher at the Rehabilitative and Assistive Technology Laboratory Biomedical Electronics and Systems Research Unit under the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec).
Surapa was chosen this year as one of the five recipients of L'Oréal Thailand's For Women in Science fellowship. Her research, which won in the Physical Sciences category, involves the development of a preventative monitoring system that addresses common health problems facing the elderly, especially bedsores and falls, based on Body Sensor Networks (BSN) and IoT technologies.
Asst Prof Surapa Thiemjarus. Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya
The other recipient in the Physical Sciences category was Chularat Wattanakit from the Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC). In the Life Sciences category, three researchers were chosen: Chanchao Lorthongpanich from the Siriraj Center of Excellence for Stem Cell Research (SiSCR); Asst Prof Varisa Pongrakhananon from the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences; and Wirulda Pootakham from the Genomic Research Laboratory, National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC). Now in its 16th year, For Women in Science has to date granted 69 fellowships to female researchers in Thailand.
With a background in advanced computing, artificial intelligence and internet technology from Imperial College London and Cambridge University, Surapa believes technology can help with early interventions and preventative care that could potentially reduce mortality and morbidity rates among elderly Thais.
"Ageing populations have created increasing demands on healthcare services and led to other societal issues in developed countries. Thailand also has an ageing society. The ever-increasing demands on healthcare services will soon exceed what the government and basic health insurance can offer. Innovative technologies are required to transform services and provide high quality care for patients," said the 38-year-old.
Based on figures from the Department of Older Persons under the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Thailand had 10.2 million elderly citizens last year -- more than 15% of the population -- a sharp rise from 7.8 million in 2011 and 9.8 million in 2016.
The 2017 World Population Ageing Report by the United Nations also reveals that older persons are expected to outnumber children under the age of 10 in 2030. Come 2050, there will be more people aged 60 or over than those aged 10 to 24. Virtually every country in the world will experience a substantial increase in the size of the population aged 60 years or over. With financial support from the Anandamahidol Foundation and the Newton Fund, and technical support from other industrial partners, Surapa firmly believes in the possibility of implementing IoT technology in elderly care. And it should not only be accessible to the well-to-do.
According to Surapa, her research project delivers a body sensor that helps monitor and detect risks that could lead to other complications. This, she explained, could mean activity monitoring among patients, such as a bed exit alarm among those who are on medication with side effects like dizziness. The technology could also be used as a sleep posture detector that would ring an alarm if patients sleep too long without moving, which can result in bedsores.
"We have conducted an extensive study to gather information on user requirements from medical professionals as well as patients and elderly people in medical institutions and homes," she explained. "Instead of relying on routine observation by the caregivers, the miniaturised, intelligent sensors can provide continuous monitoring on the well-being and safety of the elderly and raise alarms if anything adverse is detected."
Surapa said this could be the first time in the world where Body Sensor Networks and IoT technologies are deployed in such an early intervention and preventative approach.
"This should be regarded as the next generation of computers, where applications can be built around it. If we move fast, we could become a leader in the field," she suggested.
Although her elderly care technology is still in the research phase, the system will be implemented as a pilot project by the end of this year at Samitivej Hospital Chon Buri, Samitivej Hospital Sukhumvit and the Thai Red Cross's Elderly Rehabilitation Centre in Sri Racha district of Chon Buri province.
"We have the system. Now we have to figure out the most appropriate and simplest way to use it. Piloting it in hospitals will allow us to see situations from all dimensions. But the ultimate goal is for the technology to be used for elderly care at home. If it could be produced on a larger scale, it is likely that it could be cheaper and subsequently more accessible to nursing homes around the country as well as to people in general."
Surapa considers insufficient human resources to be a significant hindrance when it comes to the development of elderly care in Thailand. Nevertheless, she predicted that in the next 10 years, the technology will be there to make life better for senior citizens.
"Think robots and automation," she said. "Now such technologies are pricey. But what if they can be made available at a lower price? Think exoskeleton bodysuits that could give more strength to nurses, for example, to lift patients. Right now, many nurses are crippled with back problems. If technology can power humans, elderly care can be handled faster and more efficiently."
