Smart technology and design in Ambient Assisted Living for the ageing society

Analysis of demographic trend in Italy indicates that in the near future the elderly population will steadily increase. Since 2012, the OECD Science, Technology and Industry Outlook focuses on the issue of Ageing Society, looking into the complexity of this demographic and societal challenge, mainly related to the increase in life expectancy in population of major economies in the world, resulting in the dramatic growth of dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. In 2014, MIUR proposed guidelines for research policies on this area, launching a consultation with the aim to develop a joint document based on an integrated scientific approach, dealing with the complex issue of an ageing society. It shows that the study on the Ageing Society, at national and international level, is faced with unilateral views and never with a holistic and integrated approach. In this context the Ambient Assisted Living's innovative technologies allow the older adult to feel less fragile and more assisted but also an active citizen. The objective of this paper is to report the results of an on-going research carried out by PDTA, Department of Sapienza University of Rome, in collaboration with ENEA and the centre of excellence Civitas Vitae, Social Cohesion Infrastructure, OIC Onlus Foundation of Padua. The research aims to increase the independence of self-sufficient elderly people or those with disabilities, starting from the analysis of their frailty in relation to the context. The goal is to elaborate a replicable home design model, identifying a range of smart services for the Ageing Society, in coherence with a repertoire of intelligent technologies currently on the market, already tested or in progress. The model will be the basis for the development of an Ambient Assisted Living Platform, as an innovative interactive support tool. The potentialities that will be investigated will enhance AAL's technological innovation, defining a new relation with the built environment. Synergies arising from the use of smart solutions and optimizations of the building system enable the highest qualitative levels of a "smart living", improving the quality of life of its inhabitants, also acting on economic growth and competitiveness in personal services and more rational use of energy.