As you age, it’s common for everyday tasks to become more difficult and tiresome. Independence becomes more of a struggle. As a caregiver, family member or friend, it is a huge responsibility to care for your elderly loved one, and it can soon become a full time job. It’s understandable to have responsibilities and tasks to handle, and from the perspective of the elder person, it can also be upsetting and frustrating to require assistance, as it means the loss of their independence. Technology is progressing every day, so naturally healthcare technology and things that can improve the lives of the elderly are progressing with it. Here are some of the biggest healthcare technologies that are helping the elderly to regain some independence in their everyday routine.
The TabSafe:
This device assists the user with their medication. It is a full medication management system that can send reminders on when to take medication, when medication is running low, the assistance of reordering said medication and the provision of a full healthcare database that can be accessed by healthcare professionals. One of the best things about this device is that any information can be accessed on every smart device, PC and laptop, which gives family members an insight into the medication their loved one’s medication consumption. Support worked and caregivers often adopt the role of giving their loved ones their medication, ensuring that the prescription is reordered when needed and ensuring that they take it, this technology eliminates the need for this, which is fantastic for the senior and the caregiver.
The GrandCare System:
The GrandCare System is a residential home system that comes with several adaptable features. The system is a large tablet face with user friendly touch-screen buttons, which provides the user with instructions, reminders, medication prompts, social communications with friends and family and even entertainment features. Family members can easily stay connected with their loved ones through the Care Portal, which allows them to exchange messages, and to access important information on things such as upcoming events, health indications and medication renewals. This technology is so versatile and user friendly that it’s truly having a positive impact on its users.
The Fitbit:
The Fitbit is not necessarily a technology that is specifically for the elderly. This is a device that encourages a healthy lifestyle for the people who use it. It’s important to maintain an active lifestyle when you are older so that you don’t lose mobility or begin to deteriorate cognitively. The FitBit allows the user to set goals, monitors heartrate, sleep patterns and times and counts the number of steps that the user takes. This is a great way of encouraging the elderly to lead a more active and energetic life, it is essentially a wearable personal trainer that doesn’t put unnecessary pressure on the user.
Paro:
Some of the leading causes of depression and dementia in the elderly is due to loneliness and lack of cognitive stimulation. Paro is a therapy robot which was designed to mimic pet-like behaviours, to eliminate the feelings of loneliness in the elderly. Companion animals are often valued as family members, which can be a leading solution to the prevention of the elderly feeling upset or alone. Animals and pets can provide a calming influence that makes the elderly feel safe and protected, it can also provide sufficient cognitive stimulation which encourages the user to exercise their brain, to maintain coherent relationships and can also prevent them from losing memories or becoming distant.
Paro is designed to have the same effect and to essentially provide constant companionship when caregivers and family members are not around. This technology can also learn how to behave how the user prefers and to respond to any name the user chooses. It has five kinds of sensors. Tactile, light, audition, temperature and posture sensors, which allows it to perceive people and the environment it’s in. It can recognise light, dark, can feel itself being stroked and beaten, being held, hugged and handled, and can recognise people’s voices and the direction it is coming in.
GPS:
GPS technology systems are tracking devices and satellite locators, and when being used as aids to the elderly, they allow family members, health workers and law enforcement professionals to track and locate seniors when they are away from home. This is great in the event of an emergency, where a senior is suffering from a mental health problem, memory loss or confusion and leaves the house unattended. GPS tracking is easily accessed through smartphone devices and applications and can therefore allow the user to be situated and helped in a speedy fashion. Technologies like sensors, GPS tracking systems and even senior focused social networking sites often mean that seniors can live at home and maintain a level of independence.