Health Empowerment for Older Adults Through IoT: A Case Study of Telecare for Chronic Heart Failure Patients

The present work reports on the outcomes and valuable lessons from a six-month trial of a novel and non-intrusive healthcare system tested on a pilot with 150 older adults with chronic heart failure in the Region of Murcia, Spain. The system integrates an IoT setup in homes for environmental factors and daily routines, along with portable devices for real-time vital signs and health status tracking. It also includes a mobile app for older adults and their informal caregivers to manage and consult data monitored. Healthcare professionals configure alarms and monitor the collected data through a dedicated web application. The pilot aimed to evaluate the telecare solution's effectiveness in improving health outcomes, usability, self-care, empowerment, and reducing loneliness. The study highlighted the system’s impact on both older adults and informal caregivers, revealing challenges in usability, disease monitoring, intervention effectiveness, and emergency detection. Key learnings underscore the critical role of integrating technology, with user engagement and human support, essential for the success of digital healthcare initiatives.