Survey on Health Monitoring of Elderly Using IoT

Abstract

Most of the elderly citizens are either living by themselves or locked up at home when the family members go to work. Health of the elderly deteriorate gradually with age, but we fail to notice these changes in everyday life. The elderly are at a risk of not being attended immediately in case of emergencies. Internet of Things can be used to alert the family members and health personnel immediately when an abnormality in their health is sensed to prevent such emergencies. It can be used to detect abnormalities in the health condition by monitoring the parameters like heart pulse rate, body temperature, body movement and position, location and raise an alert to take immediate preventive actions. This approach has led to an evolution in the world of medicine. It allows for prognosis of diseases at a much earlier stage using this proactive paradigm compared to the existing retroactive diagnose-and-treat reactive paradigm. It also helps to personalize the treatment options available to meet the specific needs of the person. The early detection of abnormalities in the health condition can help in slowing down the progression of the condition and have everything under control. This article highlights the opportunities and challenges in utilizing the power of Internet of Things for remote healthcare of elderly and chronic patients.