The overall goal in TeleCARE is the design and development of a configurable framework and new technological solutions for tele-supervision and tele-assistance, based on the integration of a multi-agent and a federated information management approach, including both stationary and mobile intelligent agents, combined with the services likely to be offered by the emerging ubiquitous computing and intelligent home appliances, and applied to assist elderly people.

The traditional approach to care provision has been either to resort to support from relatives, or elderly care centers.  However, these solutions have become increasingly inappropriate for the following reasons:

(i)      Shifting the burden of responsibility onto relatives is increasingly impractical, given the fact that more and more family members have to work to secure steady incomes. 

(ii)     Care centers are costly and invariably necessitate the relocation of the elderly people, often beyond their home communities.  By so doing, elderly people may lose a degree of autonomy, and control over their daily lives.

(iii)     Many elderly people preserve enough robustness to be in their homes, a situation, which is often preferable to the elderly people themselves, and as such, better for their welfare.

Therefore, the objective of the project is to leverage the potential of information society technologies, in particular, stationary and mobile intelligent agents and virtual organizations, to improve the quality of life, and care, for elderly people and their families.  The intended platform will support the establishment of Virtual Elderly Assistance Communities.

    Example scenario for TeleCARE

      Project duration: May 2001 - April 2004