Due to an aging population, the prevalence of mental health issues is increasing among older adults. However, a shortage of qualified professionals is already affecting care quality and adding to already high workloads, particularly in inpatient settings such as old-age psychiatry units or nursing homes, where care staff are among those most heavily impacted.
In our research group, we address these issues by developing and evaluating innovative ways to use sensors and other digital technologies to improve the care quality of older adults and to enable professionals to allocate their resources effectively to areas of highest need. Another focus of our work is the ethical challenges associated with implementing new technologies in old-age psychiatric settings.
