Videogames and elders: A new path in LCT?

Abstract

The current demographic ageing in Europe is the result of a relevant economic, social, and medical development. Nevertheless, this is also leading to an increase in the demand for Long Term Care (LTC) by seniors. One viable way to offer qualified cares at home, while at the same time containing costs, is to exploit digital technologies as enablers of a constant interaction with assisting personnel. The main contribution of this paper is to propose a design methodology to put the basis for deploying, step by step, a "virtual hospital at home" based on an Ambient Intelligence (AmI). The envisaged system will integrate consumer-grade devices for videogames consoles which, thanks to their user-friendly interfaces and smooth learning curve, will contribute in minimizing the interference in the elder's private life. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.