Permanentná starostlivosť o seniorov vďaka internetu vecí (IoT)

We are aging, and accessible senior care is failing to keep up. Modern technologies, however, can monitor seniors’ behavior non-invasively, discreetly, and continuously, and alert early to a deterioration in their condition. The aim is not control, but early help and maintaining the highest possible quality of life.

Why we need technology for seniors

The share of seniors in the population is growing significantly: while around 2001 they accounted for 11.4%, by 2021 it was 17%, which is an increase of nearly one-half. This is a group that often depends on help and does not want to burden family or the community. According to an analysis by the Ministry of Labor from this year, only 35% of social services facilities meet the benchmark for an adequate standard of living, and only 2% fully achieve it, mainly in supported housing. That is why it is important to involve families, social service providers, and local governments, and give them a tool for early and targeted interventions.

How monitoring works without intruding on privacy

The system, known as Mons, uses unobtrusive wireless sensors in the home that collect data about long-term behavior, not the momentary condition. It tracks patterns such as wake-up time, movement between rooms, or routine activities, and evaluates deviations that may signal risk. It distinguishes what is normal for a given room and time of day to minimize false alarms. Alerts have different levels: from critical alarms (e.g., a long period without movement) to subtle notifications that something may be worsening.

The senior can also call for help themselves via an emergency button; when moving outside the home, a GPS tracker with geofences helps. Importantly, the system operates passively: it does not require charging a watch, clicking, or other actions—the senior lives their usual life. The solution is non-invasive and respects privacy – it does not use cameras or audio recordings and works with anonymized data. Based on nine years of practical experience, it must also be targeted and scalable to cover various diagnoses and types of housing, from a studio to a social services facility.

Practical experience and what is still needed

The first large-scale project in the Trenčín Self-Governing Region operates on this principle: 24 social services providers across nine districts monitor over 500 households, with more than 900 users involved. The system has already generated over 100,000 SMS messages and numerous email notifications, enabling timely interventions and a better overview of the situation in the field. Practice has shown that outreach and explaining that this is not about restricting freedom, but about safety and supporting independence, are important.

Equally crucial are training and workshops for social services staff, who are not always familiar with the possibilities of modern technologies. Process optimization also helps, so alerts reach the right people quickly and responses are consistent. When technology, people, and procedures work together, genuine continuous care emerges that catches a problem before it becomes a crisis. The result is greater safety for seniors and less burden for families and local governments.

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