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17 February 2011 IoN Conference - Advanced Technologies for an Ageing Population

Can advanced technologies help address the burgeoning problem of caring for our elderly?

Baby boomers "must pay for their own elderly care"

The IoN Conference Advanced Technologies for an Ageing Population takes place on 23-24 March in Glasgow. Registration is now open
The IoN Conference Advanced Technologies for an Ageing Population takes place on 23-24 March in Glasgow. Registration is now open.
Image Credit: SXC.hu.

The post-war baby boom generation “has done pretty well for itself” and should be prepared to use its property wealth to pay for care in old age, a government adviser has said.

17 million Britons alive today will live to be 100, placing strain on the NHS and care systems.

Lord Warner, who is drafting plans to reform the elderly care system, said it would be unfair to expect the working population to foot the bill for looking after their parents’ ageing generation.

He warned that the "squeezed" middle-classes face potentially the greatest burden, amid concerns that it is already too late to help ease the "catastrophic" costs likely to hit the recently retired. The former health minister called on insurance firms to develop "creative" new products to allow pensioners to protect themselves against being forced to sell their homes to pay for care and support.

Source: Daily Telegraph, 15 February 2011

Designing technologies to suit the needs of the elderly

Given the shift towards a population with a much higher proportion of elderly persons, with the attendant health problems of old age but individual expectations of better health, and, at the same time, growing economic constraints throughout the health and social care budgets, designing and implementing new technologies and systems to help the elderly may seem an intractable problem.

Nevertheless, there are many new technologies that can be harnessed to the benefit of our ageing population. With an international programme of respected expert presenters the first day of the Institute of Nanotechnology’s forthcoming Conference Advanced technologies for an Ageing Population, to be held in Glasgow on 23-24 March 2011 will provide an overview of exciting new research being applied to the medical conditions associated with ageing while the second day will explore how such new developments and assistive technologies can be implemented practically and economically within our hard-pressed healthcare and social systems.

Jackie Marshall-Cyrus

Jackie Marshall-Cyrus

Jackie Marshall-Cyrus is an experienced healthcare professional and is currently Lead Specialist at the UK Technology Strategy Board’s Assisted Living Platform. At the Conference Jackie will explore how technologies can be designed and tailored to suit the needs of individual elderly persons and help them lead fulfilling and independent lives.

Alastair Kent

Alastair Kent

Alastair Kent is the Chair of EPPOSI (European Platform for Patients’ Organisations, Science and Industry) based in Brussels and Director of Genetic Alliance UK. Alastair will discuss the importance of responding to identifiable clinical aspects of conditions affecting elderly people and addressing those aspects of their condition that they feel are most important to them.

Professor Pauline Banks

Professor Pauline Banks

Professor Pauline Banks is Professor in Older Persons’ Health at the University of West of Scotland. Pauline will explore the population projections and demographic changes expected in the coming years and, in the light of these challenges, will consider the implications for the sustainability of older persons care in this time of economic stringency.

Professor June Andrews

Professor June Andrews

Professor June Andrews is Director of the Dementia Services Development Centre, University of Stirling, UK. In her keynote presentation she will describe the increasing burden and cost being placed on health and care services in treating dementia and will stress how treating and supporting patients with dementia demands technological solutions.

In addition to their individual presentations, all four experts will join a panel discussion on the topic How to best develop technological solutions for the elderly where Conference delegates will be able to interact with them and pose their own questions and comments.

Further Information

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Source: IoN Conference - Advanced Technologies for an Ageing Population /...

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