On 1st of August AIT and the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (bmvit) held a joint press conference in the Vienna Ringturm to report on the implementation of the project “The first 50 smart homes for independent living in old age“ in Burgenland. The panel included Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann, Federal Minister Doris Bures, Michaela Fritz (AIT), Regional Governor Hans Niessl and ASBÖ Managing Director Reinhard Hundsmüller.
AIT integrates smart home technologies into 50 assisted living units provided by the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASBÖ), an Austrian NGO operating in the health care sector. The focus is on enabling seniors to live safely, comfortably, and independently for as long as possible.
Applications range from video chats and bathroom monitoring through to remote health monitoring. E-health applications and automatic data transfer allow the resident’s health condition to be monitored on a continuous basis.
"New technologies enabling older people to live an independent life for longer hold the answer to one of the greatest challenges of our times. Today, a total of 1.9 million Austrians are over 60 years old. By 2030 this figure will have risen to 2.8 million. This makes it absolutely essential to create a modern living environment that meets the needs of older people,” said Innovation Minister Doris Bures.