Most over-65s comfortable with at-home monitoring
The term “nanny state” gets thrown around an awful lot these days, but when it comes to ageing and health, being closely watched mightn’t be such a bad thing. A survey of 1,200 Australians found that 91 per cent of people over 65 and 90 per cent aged 50 to 64 would feel comfortable having their health monitored thanks to trackers around the home.
The report, conducted by HCF, found that most Australians – particularly older generations – had a positive attitude towards technology being used in health and aged care. In fact, 85 per cent of over-65s reported they would be confident if artificial intelligence (AI) was used to help diagnose medical problems.
However, 57 per cent did admit to concerns about the privacy of their records and the fact that AI lack human intuition and empathy.
“It’s clear that Australians can see the benefit of technological advancements in health, particularly where it can be used to prevent disease and improve patient care,” HCF Managing Director Shaun Larkin said. “However, it seems we are also torn between the perceived positives and the potential limitations of removing the human element.”
HCF’s findings come at a time in Australian healthcare where more and more aged care experts are embracing the idea of AI. In fact, earlier this week we reported on the revolutionary robot Matilda, which has been found to improve the quality of life in hundreds of dementia patients.
“It’s easy to get excited about technology that can help save lives and potentially revolutionise patient care,” Larkin added. “At the same time, we need to be aware of the implications of change – from the true cost of technological advancements to other ethical and personal considerations.”
Are you comfortable with the idea of AI around our hospitals, doctor’s practices and even our homes? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.