Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.1
2.4
Journals
Medicina
Special Issues
Personal and Pervasive Health Care for the Elderly
share announcement

Personal and Pervasive Health Care for the Elderly

A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Epidemiology & Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 May 2026 | Viewed by 2626

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Yupin Aungsuroch

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Nursing, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Interests: nursing; healthcare

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As populations around the world age rapidly, the demand for innovative health care solutions tailored to the elderly has grown significantly. Traditional hospital-based systems are often inadequate for addressing the chronic illnesses, frailty, cognitive decline, and social isolation that older adults face. Over the past two decades, advances in mobile health (mHealth), wearable sensors, artificial intelligence, and pervasive computing have laid the foundation for personalized, continuous, and home-based health care delivery. These developments are reshaping elderly care by integrating preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic interventions into everyday environments.

This Special Issue aims to highlight cutting-edge research, frameworks, and practical solutions that leverage pervasive and personalized technologies to enhance elderly health care. The scope includes not only technological innovations but also interdisciplinary perspectives spanning medicine, nursing, gerontology, social sciences, and policy. By providing a forum for diverse contributions, the issue seeks to inform the design, deployment, and evaluation of systems that ensure safety, autonomy, dignity, and quality of life for older adults.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) the following:

  1. Wearable and ambient sensors for continuous health monitoring;
  2. AI-driven predictive models for early detection of chronic conditions and frailty;
  3. Mobile and telemedicine platforms for personalized interventions;
  4. Cognitive computing and digital therapeutics for dementia and mental health;
  5. Human–computer interaction for older adults, including usability and accessibility;
  6. Data privacy, ethics, and security in elderly health care systems;
  7. Integration of pervasive health systems into formal and informal care networks.

We invite original research articles, systematic/narrative/literature/integrative reviews, meta-analyses, and perspectives that

  1. Present innovative technical solutions with real-world applicability;
  2. Provide interdisciplinary insights linking technology with clinical or caregiving practices;
  3. Demonstrate rigorous evaluation methods, including trials, simulations, or user studies with elderly participants;

Highlight challenges and propose future research directions for scalable and sustainable health care systems.

Dr. Yupin Aungsuroch
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Medicina is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • pervasive health care
  • personalized medicine
  • elderly care
  • wearable and ambient sensors
  • smart homes
  • telemedicine
  • assistive robotics
  • AI in health care
  • cognitive health
  • gerontechnology

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

16 pages, 874 KB  
Article
Assessment of Visual Acuity and Stereopsis in Older Adults: A Comparison Between a Screening Application and Clinical Standards—A Feasibility Study
by Dorottya Wiegand, Eszter Mikó-Baráth, Ildikó Telkes, Balázs Patczai, Adrienne Csutak and Vanda Agnes Nemes
Medicina 2026, 62(3), 517; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62030517 - 11 Mar 2026
Viewed by 492
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Visual impairment and reduced stereovision significantly impact the quality of life and increase fall risk in older adults. While standard clinical assessment of visual functions is essential in this population, its use is often limited by the need for specialized [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Visual impairment and reduced stereovision significantly impact the quality of life and increase fall risk in older adults. While standard clinical assessment of visual functions is essential in this population, its use is often limited by the need for specialized equipment and trained personnel. Tablet-based screening tools offer a practical alternative but require clinical validation. This study aimed to assess the agreement, reliability, and diagnostic performance of a tablet-based screening application (index methods) compared to established clinical reference methods for assessing visual acuity (VA) and stereovision (SV) in adults over 60 years. Materials and Methods: This prospective, non-blinded, cross-sectional, feasibility study included two cohorts: a test–retest group of 24 older adults assessed twice within 7 days, and a clinical cross-sectional group of 135 participants recruited from primary care practices. VA was measured using tablet-based Landolt C test and compared with an ETDRS-style chart, while stereovision was assessed using tablet-based static and dynamic random dot stereograms and compared with the TNO stereotest. Agreement and reliability were evaluated using Bland–Altman analysis, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: The index VA method demonstrated good test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.79) with no significant difference between repeated measurements. In the clinical cross-sectional group, visual acuity measurements showed a small mean bias (0.022 logMAR) between the index and reference methods, which remained within clinically acceptable limits, particularly in the intermediate acuity range. For stereovision, the index SV tests showed high test–retest agreement. Using a TNO cutoff of 480 arcsec, the index SV method demonstrated good diagnostic accuracy (AUC 0.87 for static and 0.85 for dynamic stimuli) with high sensitivity for detecting impaired stereovision. Conclusions: The tablet-based index method provided reliable and clinically comparable results for VA and SV assessments in older adults, supporting its potential use as a screening tool in primary care and community-based settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personal and Pervasive Health Care for the Elderly)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 747 KB  
Article
Establishing Age- and Sex-Specific Reference Intervals for Thyroid Function Tests in the Older People of Eastern Anatolia: A Population-Based Indirect Approach
by Zekiye Çatak, Harun Fener, Hakan Ayyıldız and Zeynep Şimal Çokgüler
Medicina 2026, 62(3), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62030425 - 24 Feb 2026
Viewed by 763
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Given that hormone levels vary with age, the application of age-specific reference intervals in older populations is clinically essential. In this study, we aimed to establish age- and sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for serum free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Given that hormone levels vary with age, the application of age-specific reference intervals in older populations is clinically essential. In this study, we aimed to establish age- and sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for serum free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in healthy individuals aged ≥65 in Eastern Turkey using an indirect statistical method. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 3835 individuals (1986 males and 1849 females) who were evaluated at Elazığ Fethi Sekin City Hospital between 2020 and 2025. According to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) C28-A3 guidelines, reference intervals were determined using a laboratory database–based indirect reference interval estimation approach with nonparametric percentile methods following a posteriori reference population selection, and the Harris–Boyd criteria were applied for age and sex partitioning. Results: The established reference intervals for those aged ≥65 years were 2.40–4.03 pg/mL for fT3, 0.60–1.27 ng/dL for fT4, and 0.41–3.94 mIU/L for TSH. While fT3 levels declined with age, TSH and fT4 levels did not differ consistently across age subgroups. Sex-based differences were significant: fT3 levels were higher in males, whereas fT4 and TSH levels were higher in females. According to the Harris–Boyd analysis, separate reference intervals are recommended for males and females. Conclusions: For healthy older individuals living in Eastern Türkiye, sex-specific reference intervals should be used for thyroid function tests, whereas age-specific reference intervals are sufficient for fT3. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personal and Pervasive Health Care for the Elderly)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

25 pages, 745 KB  
Review
Nurse-Led Interventions Targeting Clinical Correlates of Immunosenescence in Older Adults: A Scoping Review
by Gianluca Azzellino, Patrizia Vagnarelli, Ernesto Aitella, Luca Mengoli, Lia Ginaldi and Massimo De Martinis
Medicina 2026, 62(2), 262; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62020262 - 26 Jan 2026
Viewed by 991
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Immunosenescence is a complex biological process associated with aging, characterized by a progressive decline in immune function and increased chronic inflammation (“inflammaging”), with clinical implications such as frailty, functional decline, multimorbidity, and a higher risk of adverse events in older [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Immunosenescence is a complex biological process associated with aging, characterized by a progressive decline in immune function and increased chronic inflammation (“inflammaging”), with clinical implications such as frailty, functional decline, multimorbidity, and a higher risk of adverse events in older adults. Nurses in community and primary care settings play a central role in preventive and health promotion interventions that may indirectly influence these processes. However, the available literature remains fragmented. Therefore, this scoping review aims to map and synthesise nursing interventions targeting older adults (≥60 years) that may indirectly influence immunosenescence by acting on its clinical correlates and modifiable determinants, organising the evidence within a four-pillar conceptual framework. Materials and Methods: A scoping review was conducted following JBI methodology and the PRISMA-ScR checklist. We included primary studies on nurse-led interventions in community, home care, primary care, territorial, or long-term care settings. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched (English; last 10 years). Interventions were classified into four pillars: nursing nutrition and immunonutrition support, physical activity and exercise support, nursing vaccination coaching, and frailty monitoring and prevention of functional decline. Results: Twenty-five primary studies were included, mostly randomised or cluster-randomised trials in community, primary care, home care, and transitional care settings. Interventions mapped mainly to Pillar 4 and Pillar 2, while Pillar 1 was less frequent and usually part of multicomponent programmes; no primary studies targeted Pillar 3. Overall, effectiveness appeared driven more by intervention intensity and integration than by frailty identification alone: structured, multicomponent nurse-led programmes combining exercise with nutritional and psychosocial components showed the most consistent benefits on frailty, functional outcomes, and well-being, whereas low-intensity preventive consultations and Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA)-based models often showed limited improvements over usual care. Conclusions: This scoping review highlights the key role of community and primary care nurses in preventive interventions targeting clinical correlates of immunosenescence. Multicomponent nurse-led programmes integrating physical activity, nutrition, and psychosocial support appear most promising for frailty and functional outcomes, while low-intensity interventions show limited effectiveness. No primary studies addressed nurse-led vaccination coaching, representing an evidence gap. Future research should include biological/immunological markers alongside clinical outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personal and Pervasive Health Care for the Elderly)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop