Caring for and keeping the elderly in their homes

Population aging is a global issue. The problem is especially critical in societies, such as China and India, where there has been both rapid aging of the population and a tradition that children are the primary caregivers for their elderly parents who are no longer independent. This article discusses a variety of options for various types of professional and non-professional caregivers and services for the elderly in their homes used in the U.S. and how technology has been used to support this heterogeneous model of caregiving. Efforts have been made to coordinate among caregivers and outside services and track changes in health conditions effectively over time through the greater use of technology. These ideas offer a possible path for other societies, such as China and India, facing growing health needs and limited resources to care for the elderly.