Challenges in the Development of Smart Elderly Care Services: Focusing on the Needs of the Elderly and Artificial Intelligence Technology

Abstract

This paper addresses the critical issue of global population aging, with a special focus on the severe challenges posed by the aging trend in China. Smart elderly care services have emerged as a key strategy to address this demographic shift, and their current state of development and associated challenges have become key areas of research. Through a comprehensive analysis employing literature review and questionnaire surveys, the study delves into the needs of the elderly for smart elderly care services, especially in daily living, healthcare, safety monitoring, and other aspects. The research findings indicate that factors like age, personal income, and the level of awareness about smart elderly care significantly impact the preferences of the elderly. This underscores the need to expand the scope of smart elderly care services to encompass their spiritual, cultural, and recreational needs. Although the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the elderly care sector has shown initial positive outcomes, it still faces challenges such as incomplete big data, a shortage of skilled personnel, undeveloped business models, and privacy protection issues. In the future, advancements in AI and digital technologies are anticipated to narrow the digital divide among the elderly. Governments are expected to increase investments in infrastructure improvements, while intelligent devices and services will be optimized to cater to the specific requirements of the elderly. Additionally, elderly education is poised to encounter greater opportunities for development, marking a significant transformation in the elderly care landscape.