Potential Benefits

Potential Advantages of Utilizing Smart Home's in Healthcare

Many proponents of smart homes advocate its predisposition to immensely improving the medical field through “decentralized healthcare” (Bennett et al., 2017), which can provide a more personalized experience in a timely manner. Through the use of smart accessories and sensors throughout the household, residents are able to access “home care, virtual medical consultancy and the management of residents’ health” (Marikyan et al., 2021). Personal accessories can accurately assess their medical condition and put them in contact with their medical provider or emergency services if the need arises, as seen with current smart home devices such as the Amazon Echo and Alexa, or the Google Home. Furthermore, the “ability to use appliances without fiddling with small buttons and knobs is of great advantage” (Bennett et al., 2017) to patients who are “physically impaired” (Bennett et al., 2017). Overall, decentralized healthcare would reduce the burden on current healthcare facilities, promoting “independent living…and care accessibility for the ageing population” (Marikyan et al., 2021). Aside from an increase in quality of medical care, patients may also experience simultaneous financial benefits through the implementation of smart devices in their home. As was stated by Bennett et all, smart homes can be a “cost-effective in aiding the elderly and disabled to remain in the home for longer in a non-obtrusive way. This can allow greater independence and quality of life while reducing the chance of social-isolation.” (Bennett et al., 2017). This can be applied by utilizing smart devices that monitor and reduce unnecessary energy use throughout the house, which can be especially useful to the elderly or patients with mental disabilities. (Marikyan et al., 2019, Balta-Ozkan et al., 2013a)