Digital assistants for outpatient care: benefits of intelligent connected assistive systems for caregivers and elderly people

Demographic change and the growing shortage of skilled caregivers demand innovative solutions for outpatient elderly care. As part of the CARE REGIO project, this study explored the potential and challenges of digital assistive systems for fall prevention in home care. In a five weeks user study, 22 care recipients used individually selected assistive technologies (e.g., smartwatch, sleep mat, blood pressure monitor) connected to a data integration platform, allowing caregivers to incorporate health data into their routines. The evaluation combined qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys, including the System Usability Scale (SUS). Results showed high acceptance among care recipients (SUS score: M = 78.6). Caregivers saw benefits in the documentation of vital signs but noted challenges in integrating the system into daily workflows. The study highlights that successful implementation of assistive systems into outpatient care depends on user-friendly design, customization, training, and integration into care routines. It offers practical recommendations and hypotheses for further research, supporting the real-world adoption of digital solutions in outpatient care.