AMBIENT ASSISTED LIVING - Intelligent Living for Elderly People

All European countries are affected by demographic change due to which the average age of the European population increases more and more. The fraction of people 60+ is continuously growing. This part of the population who may be limited in their mobility, cognitive abilities and/or motor skills, will in future be increasingly dependent on assistance, support and medical care. The ageing of the European population will lead to massive care giving costs, while the shrinking young population will be less capable of caring for the older generation.

This situation was the starting point for the idea of Ambient Assisted Living (aal). Aal offers assistance systems which are aimed at enhancing the quality of life of elderly people by means of control and regulation performances. Ambient refers to an intelligent surroundings which helps older people to manage their everyday life without necessarily being perceived by them and by adapting itself to their habits. The overall goal is to make life for older people more comfortable and secure and to offer them the opportunity to remain in their familiar surroundings and live an autonomous life for as long as possible. In addition, aal technologies reduce the burden for the family caring for the older person.

Aal technologies comprise functions such as automatic opening and closing of windows and blinds or turning on and off lighting. Further, it serves to enhance the security level by comprising functions such as sensor-based monitoring of dangerous household appliances, fire and water alarm, intelligent locking systems, burglary protection, reminder functions, emergency calls or fall detectors. Combined with the control of heating, ventilation and air conditioning, aal increases the energy savings, as well.