The largest population growth of any generation is the baby boomers. By the year
2030, the number of Americans over the age of 65 will have doubled and by 2050, it!is
projected the number of people aged 65 and older will reach 83.7 million making up 21%
of the total population (Wang & Yalcin, 2020). In the healthcare system, there is a concern
for an impending shortage of healthcare resources to meet the needs of the elderly. ! There
will be an increase in demand for home and health care services society may not be able to
meet. The Department and Industrial and Management Systems Engineering at the
University of South Florida is experimenting with ambient wireless sensors. Wang &
Talcin (2020) write, "Smart homes with ambient wireless sensors present great potential to
manage the growing health care service needs of this older population segment, to improve
their quality of life and to enable them to age in-place." !This technology will allow for
baby boomers to live independently as it monitors their health and wellbeing.
The value of the natural and applied science lens for understanding this topic is
gaining insight on how this ambient wireless sensor technology can significantly
contribute to shaping society. Considering the baby boomer impact on the health care
system, something needs to!be done to meet the healthcare needs of the elderly when there
is a worry of dwindling healthcare resources. The elderly is concerned with a change in
lifestyle. Living with a family member impedes their ability to self-actualize and live
independently. The elderly also does not want to feel as though they are a burden on their
loved ones. Famakinwa (2019) writes that 61% of older adults would prefer to stay in their
own home but family members worry about their older relatives' decisions to stay at home
alone. The ambient wireless sensors will screen the elderly person's health and wellness as
information about their day-to-day activities is being monitored and obtained by sensor
data for signs of changes in daily patterns, routines, and overall health and wellness status
(Wang & Talcin, 2020). The sensor helps to deter emergency situations by monitoring and
measuring specific health indicators. By utilizing ambient wireless sensor technology, the
elderly can live autonomously in their homes and feel a sense of comfort that their
wellbeing is being looked out for. What's more, it helps to ease the burden of worry and
stress on informal caregivers. The ambient wireless sensor tool is beneficial if the data
behind the science can demonstrate the technology is favorable for monitoring the elderly
in terms of health, wellbeing, and safety.!
!References
Famakinwa, J. (2019, June 11). 61% of older adults prefer to remain at home-Even if
living alone. Home Healthcare News. Retrieved from:
https://homehealthcarenews.com/2019/06/61-of-older-adults-prefer-to-remain-at-
home-even-if-living-alone/#:~:text=61%25%20of%20Older%20Adults
%20Prefer,Alone%20%2D%20Home%20Health%20Care%20News
Wang, Y., & Yalcin, A. (2020). Health and wellness monitoring using ambient sensor
networks.!Journal of Ambient Intelligence & Smart Environments, 12(2), 139–151.
Retrieved from: https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.3233/AIS-200553
