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ICT as an enabler of improvements in life quality perception of older adults in risk of social exclusion: A case study

Abstract:

The world's elderly population has been increasing at an impressive rate in the last decades. Under this context, the aging process typically requires personalized care services for each individual. In the last few years, the Ecuadorian Government through its public policy has intended to guarantee the well-being of people from birth to death; however, there have not been enough social programs or opportunities for older people in order to achieve their wellbeing. This fact gets worse when their families abandon older adults and therefore find themselves alone in total helplessness. Even more, there are few public nursing homes to help and take care of them in their last years of life. This work presents a care model with the insertion of ICT, implemented in a public Nursing Home with limited human and economic resources located in the Valley of Los Chillos, Ecuador. The primary objective was to enhance the well-being of around 50 older people. The study used ICT for surveillance, assistance, and control; helping with the perception of a better life, addressing both physical and psychological states of elders.