Dr. Demiris has been at the forefront of the intersection of informatics and nursing science, and his work has introduced new and innovative approaches to old problems in gerontology.
He is exploring innovative ways to utilize technology and support patients and their families in various settings including home and hospice care. He has conducted numerous federally funded studies and his work has been funded consistently over the years both by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). His expertise is also in designing and evaluating “smart home” solutions for aging, and in understanding the potential of wearable devices or digitally augmented residential settings to facilitate passive monitoring and support independence and quality of life for community dwelling older adults. His research provides evidence-based recommendations as to how to design systems that are easily adopted by older adults and integrated in their lives. He has examined the challenges of privacy and obtrusiveness in the context of technology use, and he has provided a comprehensive examination of technical, ethical, and practical challenges associated with the use of technology to support aging.
“My research focuses on the transformative role information technology can play in the health care of older adults and their families, and the generation of innovative personal health solutions in home and hospice care.”