Yesterday, we talked about how advances in technology have helped many senior citizens stay social, even though they live alone, or even though they are located far from their family members. This technology might seem futuristic, but it’s not. High tech senior care technology is here today, and it is even affordable to most people. But new tech does a lot more than just help your loved one keep in touch with people. It can also bring down the cost of senior care.
Experts in the senior care business that specialize in technology have broken down new tech into three main categories. We talked about one of those three categories when we talked about socialization. Today, we will address the other two categories: personal safety and medication management.
Personal Safety
The safety and health of your mom or dad is probably high on your list of concerns, and having some tech in the home to help keep them as safe as possible can ease your mind and help them to maintain their independence at the same time.
There are sensors that can be installed throughout the home that can help detect if a fall occurs. If something like this occurs, an alert can be sent so that they are checked up on and not potentially left lying on their floor unable to call for help.
And of course don’t forget the alert bracelets or necklaces that allow your parent to summon emergency help if needed. These come with the traditional button that sends out an alert, but many companies have also begun to automate the process so if unusual activity is detected, an alert is set out without the push of a button even if they are out of the home.
Medication Management
A couple decades ago, there was a huge revolution when it came to medication management. You could organize all of the pills that you needed for a loved one into a daily pill organizer, sorting it by the days of the week, and even by morning pills and evening pills. It was a huge help, but it also had some obvious issues. What if you don’t have enough pills to get through all seven days before you get a refill? Missing one or two pills can cause issues with this system because that information is not built into the pill container itself. It creates extra steps when it comes to organization and memory. Not a huge deal, but less than ideal.
With pill tracking apps, these issues can be built into your tracking system. You can breakdown your schedule by each medication, set alarms for when they need to be taken–even if it’s multiple times per day. If a refill is needed, you can program the app to set a reminder alarm so this doesn’t become an issue when it is medication time, but you are unknowingly missing a pill.
These are also very simple, and most seniors can operate them with ease. The only reservation we have is that those with advanced Alzheimer’s or other dementia should not attempt to track their own meds. Having an in-home caregiver to assist with meds in these instances is a must.
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