Ethical AI: Enriching the Lives of Seniors through Independent Living

By Manpreet Kaur

“Every elderly people needs genuine love and concern. They need sensitivity, understandings and food for emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Compassionate AI aims to provide that service with integrity and love.” - Amit Ray, Compassionate Artificial Intelligence

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global population of people aged 60 and above is expected to double, i.e. reach 2.1 billion by 2050. This shift brings challenges such as fewer caregivers and high healthcare costs. However, AI is stepping as a powerful solution to enabling seniors to live independently while improving their emotional and social well-being. Let’s find out how. 

How AI Supports Independent Living

“As we continue to see advancements in AI and an uptick in consumer adoption, AI and robotics could permanently change how people receive their long-term care and provide them with more opportunity to safely remain independent for longer.” - Holly Snyder, president of Nationwide Life Insurance Business.

Here’s how AI helps seniors: 

1. Promoting Independence

As people age, managing everyday tasks becomes physically demanding. AI-powered smart home systems and virtual assistants like Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit help them turn lights, adjust thermostats, and lock doors with voice commands. These systems make daily tasks easier, allowing seniors to live independently. 

2. Combating Loneliness

Loneliness and social isolation are common concerns among seniors. AI-powered solutions such as robot companions and virtual assistants, and social engagement apps help overcome them by engaging with seniors, playing games, and sending reminders for important activities.  

Elliq is an empathetic AI companion that engages 24/7 with older adults. It enhances their lives by offering entertainment, engaging conversations, wellness activities, and seamless connections with caregivers and family members, thereby promoting overall well-being and helping seniors take better control of their health.

Many seniors have found comfort in ElliQ’s companionship. David Rutter, 69, from Florida, shared his experience saying, "She cares about me and makes sure I’m doing okay."

3. Facilitating Emergency Response

Old people are at a higher risk of medical emergencies such as falls, strokes, and heart attacks. AI-powered emergency response systems track their health in real time, detect falls, and send automatic alerts to ensure they get quick support to prevent life-threatening conditions.

For example, EyeWatch LIVE™ is a smart monitoring system for senior care homes. It uses AI to track movement and monitor residents in real time, helping caregivers respond quickly and prevent risks. The system monitors the safety zone around the bed and room, detecting unusual activity to ensure seniors stay safe.

Ethical Considerations

Now that the benefits of AI are clear, it is equally important to address the ethical concerns. 

1. Privacy and Data Security

AI systems use personal data such as health records and daily activity patterns. This raises concerns about the security of sensitive information. For instance, healthcare information of over 167 million people was breached in 2023.  Old people who are not familiar with digital security are susceptible to more risk. Another 2024 survey found that 51% of healthcare organizations had data breaches since 2022, highlighting the need for data protection in AI-driven senior care.

 2. Algorithmic Bias

Algorithmic bias may lead to unfair treatment and increase health disparities among seniors. The AI systems trained on biased data may produce biased outcomes, resulting in unequal access to healthcare. A popular case study of such bias led to Black patients receiving more cesarean procedures than necessary.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, the algorithm wrongly predicted minorities had a lower chance of a successful vaginal birth after a C-section compared to non-Hispanic white women. 

“When a dataset used to train an AI system lacks diversity, that can result in misdiagnoses, disparities in healthcare, and unequal insurance decisions on premiums or coverage",  said Tom Hittinger, Healthcare Applied AI leader at Deloitte Consulting. Therefore, it is important to train AI algorithms using different datasets and maintain transparency in decision-making processes. 

Building a Future with Dignity

AI has the potential to enhance the lives of seniors, promote independence, and improve life quality. However, it is imperative to address ethical considerations and ensure that technology respects the privacy and rights of older adults. By prioritizing ethical AI development and implementation, we can create a future where seniors age gracefully with dignity.