Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: AndrewHazlehurst on 11/03/2014 16:16:58

Title: The biggest challenges an ageing population
Post by: AndrewHazlehurst on 11/03/2014 16:16:58

What do you see the biggest challenges an ageing population will present and how to do you think science and technology can be used to overcome them?

Title: Re: The biggest challenges an ageing population
Post by: cheryl j on 12/03/2014 14:05:01

In a rural area, one of the biggest challenges is transportation. Once a person has no license, it's really difficult to live independently, even if they are quite capable of caring for themselves otherwise.

Title: Re: The biggest challenges an ageing population
Post by: CliffordK on 12/03/2014 19:06:56

Houses can certainly be designed to be elderly occupant friendly, for example putting all major living areas on the ground floor, and designing the house without any steps.  Of course there are elderly communities and assisted living organizations which provide additional benefits to the elderly including regular meals.

One of the problems with the elderly is a technology gap.

Some of the people in their 80's and 90's have never had the internet, e-mail, cell phones, or car navigation, all technologies that could potentially benefit them.  Even if the technology is made to be very easy to use, it can still be frustrating to the users.