Enhancing elderly well-being : smart chromic and illuminative textiles for health monitoring, sensory engagement, and movement promotion

Abstract

Background: The rapid expansion of the global aging population, combined with caregiver shortages and rising care demands, highlights the urgent need for innovative, non-intrusive, and user-centered solutions in elderly healthcare. While current smart textiles primarily focus on physiological monitoring, few have explored the integration of visual, chromic, and interactive functionalities tailored for older adults. Objective: This review examines the potential of smart chromic and illuminative textiles—including thermochromic yarns and Polymeric Optical Fibers (POFs)—to support elderly care through intuitive visual feedback, sensory interaction, and gesture-responsive systems. Method: This review synthesizes outcomes from co-designed prototypes implemented and evaluated in institutional and community-based elderly care settings, incorporating observational data and subject trials to assess effectiveness, usability, and engagement. Results: Thermochromic heating textiles offer real-time visual indicators of temperature changes, mitigating burn risks and supporting safe thermal regulation in garments and cushions. Illuminative sensory fabrics provide portable and scalable alternatives to fixed multisensory environments, promoting cognitive stimulation in dementia care. Additionally, AI-enhanced illuminative fabric panels encourage stretching and mobility by responding to posture and gesture through embedded recognition systems—empowering elderly users to engage more actively in physical routines. Conclusion: Smart chromic and illuminative textiles represent a promising frontier in elderly healthcare. By combining familiarity, intelligent responsiveness, and user-friendly feedback, these technologies provide greater autonomy, safety, and well-being among aging populations. Their integration into diverse care settings offers an impactful, human-centered approach to improving the quality of life in later life.