THE IMPACT OF VITAL SIGN MONITORING DEVICES ON THE QUALITY AND SAFETY OF CARE FOR OLDER ADULTS
Abstract
Population ageing and the growing number of older adults are among the most significant public health challenges of the 21st century. With age, the prevalence of chronic diseases, multimorbidity, functional and cognitive impairment, and the risk of sudden health events such as falls, exacerbations of heart failure, arrhythmias or acute respiratory episodes increase substantially. The traditional model of care, based on periodic medical visits and ad-hoc observation, proves insufficient to ensure continuous safety for older adults. In response to these challenges, technologies for real-time monitoring of vital signs have been developing rapidly. These include certified medical devices, wearable technologies, networks of environmental sensors (Internet of Things), and advanced predictive systems based on artificial intelligence.
The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the impact of vital sign monitoring devices on the quality and safety of care for older adults – taking into account clinical, social, organisational, economic, and ethical dimensions. The article is based on a review of 47 international studies from 2017–2024 and an analysis of implementation reports from long-term care facilities and community-based care. The findings indicate that continuous vital sign monitoring can reduce hospitalisations by an average of 28–36%, decrease falls by 18–31%, shorten staff response time by 30–50%, and significantly improve the subjective sense of safety among older adults and their families. At the same time, these technologies generate new challenges related to data protection, privacy, users’ and staff’s digital competencies and the risk of “alarm fatigue”. The article also proposes a model of integrated care based on multi-level monitoring and identifies key directions for further research.
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