Welcome to our four part series entitled: Seniors, The Elderly, and Technology: Improving lives every day.
Part IV – Technology improves quality of life for seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
As people age and their care needs change, monitoring systems have the flexibility to change with them. For example, additional devices can be connected to a personal emergency response system so that the same people who monitor emergency situations can continually monitor other activities.
When a person develops Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia-related condition, for instance, motion detectors, pressure-sensitive mats and window and door sensors can be installed.
These detect the individual’s wanderings and alert caregivers with alarms that sound in the home, as well as at a central monitoring station. In addition, global positioning system devices can be used to find loved ones in a timely manner if they wander away.
In partnership with a professional caregiver, families can customize their use of technology to facilitate the care plan for their loved ones and complement the personal caregiving they receive.
As in every facet of our lives, technology is here to stay and will take on a growing role in caregiving. Preparing for the coming wave of aging, tech-savvy baby boomers, and building on the success of current technology, research into new in-home caregiving devices continues.
Intel, for instance, is looking for opportunities to develop technology that better serves the rapidly growing population of older adults while reducing health care costs. It is approaching this goal from three fronts:
- A shift from treatment to prevention
- A shift from expensive clinical settings to the home
- A shift of some responsibility for care from formal providers to individuals and their family and friends.
These efforts affirm seniors’ desire to age in place and maintain greater independence, as well as the proven benefits of current technologies that complement in-home caregiving.
In partnership with the University of Washington, researchers at Intel Research Seattle are developing technology to track a person’s ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). Another proposed system would deliver medication reminders by cell phone, TV, or whatever
device a senior would prefer. Other innovations in the making include wearable, wireless sensors that would alert caregivers to a senior’s fall and sensors placed in a senior’s footwear to monitor gait for irregularity to prevent falls and costly hospital stays or nursing home placements.
Research also is being conducted in artificial intelligence to help persons with Alzheimer’s disease complete activities of daily living to reduce their dependence on caregivers.
More technologies also are becoming available to remotely monitor chronic senior health conditions, such as hypertension. This capability will make more efficient and effective use of the skills of professional caregivers whose ranks are hard pressed to keep up with the rapidly growing senior population.
Technology Is A Smart Choice For Secure, Independent Living
With more promising advances under development, technology already has proven its place in extending services of professional and family caregivers around-the-clock. They provide family members assurance that help is available when they can’t be with their loved one. And as a cost effective alternative to assisted living or nursing home placement, they promote better health outcomes and quality of life for seniors who desire to “age in place” and live independently in their home for as long as possible.
PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM
This wireless, house-wide monitoring system offers hands-free, two-way voice connection in the event of an emergency. Press the HELP button on the console, or the neck or wrist pendant, to contact the monitoring station. Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, someone is always available when you need help.
MEDICINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The automated medication management system ensures seniors take the proper medicines at appropriate times throughout the day. Especially helpful for those taking multiple medications or those who may be at risk to under, or over, medicate.
PORTABLE PERS WITH GPS TECHNOLOGY
The Portable PERS with GPS technology is an ideal solution for individuals concerned with safety away from home. Individuals can be instantly located with the press of a button.
SMOKE & CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS
Monitors the presence of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, smoke, or fire in the home. These systems alert the central monitoring station who then alerts families and dispatches the local fire department.
DOOR & WINDOW CONTACTS
Especially helpful for those that may have a tendency to “wander,” these sensors send an alert if someone is leaving the home, or, trying to enter the home.
PRESSURE MATS
Ideal for seniors that may be a fall-risk or may wander at night, these mats will alert others in the household as well as the monitoring station when detecting pressure on the mat.
At Comfort Keepers, we support our caregiving services with our Safety Choice devices to ensure that all of our clients have the security they need to stay in their own home. Comfort Keepers is located in Ocala, Gainesville and The Villages, Florida and we strive to provide the highest quality senior care and elderly assistance in Central Florida. Call us today 855-592-0013!
