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Q: Can expertise assist me safely age in place?
A: It is a subject we maintain coming again to due to expertise’s wonderful progress and its relevance for right now’s seniors.
12 months after 12 months, AARP reminds us that just about 90% of seniors wish to “age in place” in their very own houses.
Cognitive and bodily declines and social isolation make this a difficult objective for a lot of.
Evolving expertise, nevertheless, is constant to create and refine methods to assist maintain seniors secure and joyful at residence.
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Think about this state of affairs: Your 80-something dad and mom dwell alone.
Your mother has gentle dementia and often forgets to eat and take her drugs.
Your dad struggles with arthritis ache and sometimes doesn’t really feel as much as cooking or caregiving.
You are worried always and name a number of instances a day to verify they’re okay.
Nicely… say hiya to “Vigorous!”
The distant passive monitoring system contains sensors (not cameras) positioned across the residence, in locations like the drugs cupboard, the microwave, the fridge and extra.
You may log onto the Vigorous web site to make sure your dad or mum’s each day actions all fall inside the programmed baseline.
Did the fridge open at lunch time?
Was the drugs cupboard accessed?
Uncommon patterns will immediate alerts through net, textual content, electronic mail or telephone to the distant consumer or native caregiver.
Good expertise in myriad varieties may also help seniors preserve their independence and keep away from a transfer from residence.
Far past the “I’ve fallen and I can’t stand up” emergency alerts, expertise contains GPS-enabled trackers and real-time well being displays through smartwatches.
Different examples embrace digital remedy dispensers, reminder gadgets reminiscent of Alexa or Reminder Rosie and distant well being and exercise monitoring platforms like GrandCare Programs.
Many grownup kids discover a sense of peace with a brand new digital connection to their dad and mom.
“Linked Independence expertise” is now a $2 billion business.
Main the way in which are gerontologists, engineers and entrepreneurs like Growing old 2.0, with 40k+ innovator/members in 31 international locations centered on accelerating innovation in getting old expertise.
After which there are the private help robots.
With synthetic intelligence in-built, robots like ElliQ are taking interplay to the subsequent degree.
Based on the Washington Put up, “ElliQ gives soothing encouragement, invites to video games, light well being prodding, music ideas and, most necessary, a pleasant voice that learns an individual’s methods.”
Senior customers can entry social media, hear jokes and conduct on-screen video chats to remain related to the skin world.
Whereas we’re all persevering with to age, the expertise is altering for many who are able to embrace some degree of expertise.
Are you?
One Senior Place is at all times prepared to assist.
One Senior Place is a market for sources and supplier of data, recommendation, care and on-site providers for seniors and their households. Questions for this column are answered by professionals in nursing, social work, care administration and in-home care. Ship inquiries to [email protected], name 321-751-6771 or go to One Senior Place, The Specialists in Growing old.
Brenda Lyle is a Licensed Care Supervisor and Licensed Dementia Practitioner with One Senior Place, Higher Orlando.
