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A Matching Mechanism for Homecare Service based on Patient’s and Caregiver’s Criteria

Lun-Ping Hung 1, Yi-Pin Du 1, and Chien-Liang Chen 2
1. Department of Information Management, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C
2. Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, Aletheia University, Taiwan, R.O.C

Abstract—With advancement in medical technology and increasing average life expectancy, developed countries have gradually entered the aged society, making the health care for the elderly population a serious topic. In Taiwan, among the long-term care (LTC) service items, home care service is the primary concern. According to the experience of advanced countries, manpower shortage of home care service is the problem to be tackled. Therefore, LTC should focus on maximizing the efficiency in the resource allocation of limited manpower. In the past, home care attendants were dispatched by institutions to patients' home. With the prevalence of mobile network and smartphones, the business model of digital economy is affecting traditional industries and creating a new "platform economy" model which allows direct transaction among suppliers and clients, thereby creating values for all sectors in this process. Hence, this study proposes a matching calculation mechanism, including matching algorithm, home care preference menu and mobile application so that caregivers and elderly can find the most suitable match based on their needs. The proposed matching system can allocate human resources properly and enhance caregivers’ willingness to work. Moreover, it can help elderly and families to more quickly and accurately find the appropriate caregivers, reduce their burdens, and allow the elderly to achieve home-based ageing.

Index Terms—long-term care, home care service, platform economy, matching algorithm

Cite: Lun-Ping Hung, Yi-Pin Du, and Chien-Liang Chen, "A Matching Mechanism for Homecare Service based on Patient’s and Caregiver’s Criteria," Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 181-186, August, 2017. doi: 10.12720/jait.8.3.181-186