A Study on the Application of AI in Elderly Citizen Healthcare in Foreign Countries and its Relevance for China

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has spurred the emergence of “AI + healthcare for elderly individuals,” with developed nations such as the U.S., Japan, and Singapore leading in smart aging initiatives through technologies such as robotics, IoT, and big data. However, China faces significant challenges in elderly care because of its large aging population (280 million aged 60+ in 2022) and severe shortage of professional caregivers. This study examines global AI applications in elderly healthcare—including daily assistance, chronic disease monitoring, and smart home systems—while highlighting technological limitations, cybersecurity risks, and ethical concerns. The findings suggest that AI can alleviate China’s elderly care crisis by adopting intelligent care robots, predictive health analytics, and assistive devices, although challenges remain in technology integration, privacy protection, and regulatory frameworks. The study concludes that while China’s smart aging market holds promise, sustained progress requires technological innovation, policy support, and cross-sector collaboration to address ethical and operational barriers.