IoT in Elderly Care: Making Homes Safer for Seniors

The world’s population is rapidly aging. According to the UN, by 2050, the number of people aged 60 and over will double, reaching more than 2 billion. In the European Union, the proportion of people aged 65 and older already exceeded 20%: in 2020, and it accounted for 20.6% of the EU population. This trend poses the risk that more and more elderly individuals will live alone, often without daily assistance from relatives or healthcare providers. Combined with advanced age, this increases the risk of incidents related to:

• Falls are one of the leading causes of injury and death in old age.
• Health deterioration — sudden spikes in blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, diabetic crises, etc.
• Forgetfulness or dementia — for example, leaving the stove on or forgetting to lock the door.
• Social isolation can lead to depression, a loss of purpose, and consequently, a decline in overall well-being.

Elderly individuals often hesitate to hire a caregiver, whether due to personal convictions, financial constraints, or a desire to maintain their independence. Family members, in turn, can’t always be nearby, as they have their own lives, careers, and families. But home is not always a safe place. Moving into a specialized care facility can be a difficult decision, both emotionally and financially. Moreover, such facilities are often understaffed. So, what can be done if there is no perfect solution? This is where modern technologies come in.

In various countries, IoT-based systems are already being implemented and have proven effective in real-world elderly care. These systems help address the previously mentioned challenges by making it safer and easier to monitor older adults who live alone. In specialized institutions, they help compensate for staff shortages and provide better oversight of residents’ conditions.

System capabilities and real-world use cases

What can such a system do? Of course, it won’t cure existing health problems or prevent every future issue — but it can significantly reduce risks and enable quicker responses when something goes wrong.

For example, a system can monitor an elderly person’s health by tracking their pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and other vital signs. If something goes outside the normal range, relatives or doctors are notified immediately. All this data is also stored, allowing doctors to observe changes over time and identify potential issues more quickly.

In addition, the system can also make the home environment safer by reminding the person to turn off the stove, alerting to water leaks or smoke. This is extremely important, as such situations are common and potentially dangerous.

Do solutions like this already exist and make a difference? The answer is yes. In several countries, IoT systems are already being implemented and have proven effective in real-life elderly care.

One of the most striking examples comes from the Hartland House care home in the UK. There, smart Nobi lights have been installed — not only do they illuminate the room, but they’re also equipped with fall detection sensors. If a resident falls, the system immediately alerts staff, reducing response time from nearly an hour to under two minutes. As a result, the number of falls in the facility has dropped by an impressive 84%.

In the field of medical monitoring, an example from Israel stands out. The company has developed smartwatches that continuously track vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and arrhythmia detection. The device has been approved by Israel’s Ministry of Health and is actively used among elderly individuals for the early detection of heart complications. In some cases, medical assistance was provided before the person even began to feel unwell.

Another example is the KYN Bickley care home in London, which uses a system based on infrared and acoustic sensors to monitor residents’ activity, including movement frequency, sleep patterns, and bathroom visits. When sudden changes occur, the system automatically alerts the staff. For instance, falls are detected and reported to caregivers within 30 seconds, significantly reducing life-threatening risks.

At Sheba Medical Center in Israel, IoT is being used on a hospital-wide level. They have implemented a platform that enables remote monitoring of heart disease patients after they are discharged. This allows patients to undergo rehabilitation at home under a doctor’s supervision, improving treatment outcomes and reducing the rate of hospital readmissions. The solution became especially relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Another notable case is the implementation of technology in Essex County, UK. A fall detection system was installed to prevent prolonged periods where elderly individuals remained on the floor after fainting. Studies have shown that 20% of people aged 65+ are left without help for over an hour after falling — a delay that significantly increases the risk of death. IoT sensors have helped to address this issue.

Another noteworthy example is the Vital RPM project developed by the company Fordewind. The system is designed for remote monitoring of patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. The system enables medical staff to receive accurate, real-time vital signs from patients through Bluetooth-connected devices paired with Android tablets. The collected data is automatically transmitted to a cloud platform, providing doctors with immediate access to up-to-date information and the patient’s health history.

This solution reduces the risk of manual data entry errors, speeds up the data collection process, and allows for prompt responses to any deterioration in a patient’s condition, especially valuable in remote or home care settings. Moreover, the system is perfectly suited for monitoring other important indicators in elderly individuals.

These cases demonstrate that IoT is not just about the future — it’s already a part of today’s reality, improving the lives of older adults.

Possible solution options

Is building such a system difficult? Absolutely — it requires significant expertise and a skilled team, as this is a highly sensitive domain where errors can directly affect someone’s health. Can we build such a system? Without a doubt — yes.

In terms of implementation, specific solutions depend on the system’s intended use and location. Generally, the architecture follows a classical IoT structure: sensors (of various types, both environmental and those monitoring human health), an IoT gateway to collect data from the sensors, a server for processing the data, and mobile applications for family members or caregivers to monitor the person’s condition, receive alerts, and access statistical insights, etc.

When analyzing these systems in detail, two of the most common use cases can be identified:

• A system designed for use in an elderly person’s private home
• A system intended for use in a specialized care facility

In the first scenario, the goal is to develop an autonomous solution that can be installed in a senior’s home without requiring constant supervision by staff. The architecture in this case will closely resemble the one described above, and typically consists of the following components:

• Sensors (motion detectors, fall sensors, temperature and humidity sensors, gas leak and water leakage detectors, door opening sensors, biosensors for measuring vital signs (e.g., heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, etc.)
• IoT Gateway (responsible for collecting data from sensors and forwarding it to other system components; supported communication protocols: Zigbee, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi)
• Message Broker (typically using the MQTT protocol for lightweight and reliable messaging)
• Backend Server (developed with Java and Spring Framework; responsible for data processing, analysis, and system logic)
• Mobile Application (built using Flutter, Kotlin, or Swift, depending on the target platform; used by relatives or caregivers to monitor the person’s condition, receive alerts, and view historical trends)

In the second scenario, the system is designed for use in a specialized care facility, where the goal is to deploy a scalable infrastructure capable of monitoring dozens of patients simultaneously, while ensuring integration with clinical information systems. The architecture in this case includes the following components:

• Sensors and Video Surveillance Network (deployed throughout the facility; each bed is equipped with sensors for heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen saturation, and motion detection; presence sensors in bathrooms; video surveillance (with privacy protection, e.g., no video storage—used only for real-time analysis); communication protocols: Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Ethernet
• Local Data Aggregation and Integration Service (Implemented using Java (Spring Boot); Apache Kafka for real-time data stream processing; PostgreSQL for storing historical data; HL7/FHIR adapter for interoperability with hospital information systems (HIS))
• Monitoring Dashboard for Medical Staff (developed as a web application using React or Angular)
• Alert and Notification System (designed to notify caregivers via smartphones or pagers)

The use of IoT in Elderly Care

Analyzing the use of IoT in elderly care reveals several key advantages:

1. Continuous health monitoring – 24/7 supervision without requiring the constant presence of medical staff or family members. The system enables rapid response in case of falls, irregular heart rate, or prolonged immobility.
2. Autonomy and dignity – elderly individuals maintain their personal space and do not feel under constant observation.
3. Reduced workload for medical staff – automated tracking of vital signs minimizes the need for routine checks. Data is transmitted directly into electronic health records and can be used for further medical analysis.
4. Preventive care – IoT helps identify behavioral patterns and early signs of deterioration before symptoms become apparent, enabling timely intervention and reducing the risk of complications.

However, despite these significant benefits, there are also challenges and potential drawbacks that must be considered when designing such systems:

1. Privacy concerns — continuous data collection increases the risk of sensitive information leaks. It’s crucial to clearly define user roles, data access permissions, and secure methods for transmitting and storing data.
2. Dependence on technology — system outages due to power failures or connectivity issues may leave individuals without supervision.
3. Low technological literacy among older adults can create barriers to adoption and usage.
4. False sense of security — families may overestimate the capabilities of IoT systems and reduce in-person interactions. It’s essential to remember that automation cannot replace human warmth, attention, and care.

Conclusion: The Future of IoT in Elderly Care

IoT in elderly care is no longer a concept of the future; it is a present-day reality that is already transforming the lives of thousands of families. These technologies support privacy, safety, and independence, but they require thoughtful and ethical integration. Most importantly, it must always be remembered that IoT is a tool, not a substitute for human relationships. Successful implementation is only possible when technology is balanced with empathy and compassion. Thus, it remains vital to spend meaningful time communicating personally with our elderly loved ones.