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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Public Health
Sec. Aging and Public Health
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1476916
This article is part of the Research Topic Assistive Technologies in Aging and Disability View all articles

Technological applications to enhance independence in daily activities for older adults: A Systematic Review

Provisionally accepted
Carmen Requena Carmen Requena 1*María Plaza-Carmona María Plaza-Carmona 2Paula Álvarez-Merino Paula Álvarez-Merino 3Verónica López-Fernández Verónica López-Fernández 4*
  • 1 University of León, León, Spain
  • 2 Complejo Hospitalario de León, León, Spain
  • 3 University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
  • 4 International University of La Rioja, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Monitoring daily activities in older adults using sensor technologies has grown significantly over the past two decades, evolving from simple tools to advanced systems that integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) for predictive monitoring. Despite these advances, there is still a need for a comprehensive review that addresses both technological progress and its impact on autonomous aging. Objective: To conduct a systematic review of sensor technologies used to monitor the daily activities of independent older adults, focusing on sensor types, applications, usage contexts, and their evolution over time. Methodology: A search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Google Scholar databases, covering studies published between 2000 and 2024. The 37 selected studies were assessed in terms of methodological quality and organized into four chronological stages, allowing for an examination of the progressive development of these technologies. Each stage represents an advance in sensor type, technological application, and implementation context, ranging from basic sensors to intelligent systems in multi-resident homes. Results: Findings indicate a clear progression in the accuracy and applicability of sensors, which evolved from fall detection to predictive interventions tailored to each user's needs. Furthermore, the taxonomic classification of studies shows how sensors have been adapted to monitor physical, cognitive, and social dimensions, laying the groundwork for personalized care. Conclusion: Sensors represent a promising tool for promoting the independence and well-being of older adults, enabling proactive and personalized interventions in everyday settings. However, the lack of standardization in key parameters limits comparability between studies and highlights the need for consensus to facilitate the design of effective interventions that promote autonomous and healthy aging.

    Keywords: Independent older adults, sensor technologies, Activities, Technological taxonomy, Technological development, Systematic review

    Received: 06 Aug 2024; Accepted: 13 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Requena, Plaza-Carmona, Álvarez-Merino and López-Fernández. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Carmen Requena, University of León, León, 24004, Spain
    Verónica López-Fernández, International University of La Rioja, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.