Exploring the Role of Active Assisted Living in the Continuum of Care for Older Adults

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Active Assisted Living (AAL) refers to internet-connected systems designed to improve quality of life, aid in independence, and create healthier lifestyles. As the population of older adults grows, there is a pressing need for additional supports in their daily lives and for non-intrusive, continuous, adaptable, and reliable health monitoring tools. AAL has great potential to support these efforts, but additional work is required to address the feasibility of the integration of AAL into care. The objective of this project is to address core issues with AAL system implementation, including user concerns, data governance, and clinical considerations. METHODS: To understand the concerns and opportunities regarding AAL, 18 group interviews were held with stakeholders representing different parts of an AAL ecosystem. Each group comprising several participants from the same organization. These were categorized as (1) care organizations, (2) tech developers, (3) tech integrators, and (4) potential care recipients or patient advocacy groups. Thematic analysis was then performed to identify key concerns. RESULTS: AAL systems may lead to improved support for care recipients through more comprehensive monitoring and alerting, greater confidence in aging-in-place, and increased care recipient empowerment. However, participants also raised concerns regarding the management and monetization of data emerging from AAL systems, as well as general accountability and liability. CONCLUSIONS: Better role definition is needed regarding who can access data and who is responsible for acting on it. It is important for stakeholders to understand the trade-off between using AAL technologies in care settings and their costs, including loss of patient privacy and control. KEY MESSAGES: • AAL has excellent potential to support confidence in aging-in-place for older adults and their caregivers. • It is critical to acknowledge the trade-off inherent in smart technology use between utility, cost, and encroachment on privacy.