Technology is designed to help make our lives easier, but the truth is, some products are far more helpful than others. It’s expected that there will be a big boom in senior technologies in the next few years. The market geared toward seniors, which includes technology within it, is expected to triple in size in the next few years as more Baby Boomers enter their senior years. Many companies are already starting to get ready for this and manufacture products that are not just targeted toward the population, but are also going to be useful.
Perhaps some of these products will fit this description for you and your family. Not all tech items are great for everyone. Just like senior care itself, no two people have the same set of needs and not all technology will carry the same usefulness along with it.
With that said, here are a few of the newer senior care tech items that have just hit the shelves or are just about to.
Virtual Reality
A company called Embodied Labs is creating virtual reality products that are designed to help caregivers better understand the health of the people that they assist. Having a great love for the people that they care for is certainly important, but to really understand the issues that seniors face is hard. Not many caregivers have experienced things like dementia, macular degeneration, or the other illnesses and diseases that seniors can face. This VR setup is designed to help caregivers experience these things so that they can be more aware of the needs of the people that they assist.
These devices are expensive, starting out at $2,500. Right now, they are only available to professional organizations. However, as the technology gets better and more developed, this is a great way to help caregivers better understand how to help the people that they serve.
New senior care tech items may help families and businesses deliver better care to the people they love.
Wearable Tech
We all have heard of smart watches and Fitbit monitoring devices, and now the trend is moving into the senior care market. These new products are more than just healthy cheerleaders, though. They have built in sensors that can detect heart rate and breathing patterns–like a Fitbit–but are connected to a cloud so that if a heart attack or other emergency were to occur, authorities could be immediately alerted and told exactly what was happening and where the person who was suffering was located.
Watches like the VitalBand can also detect accidents and falls. If you have a loved one that spends parts of their day alone, this is probably something that you worry about. Much like the alert necklaces and bracelets that used to be featured on commercials, this product will help seniors get the assistance that they need if an emergency occurs. The big difference is that the alert is sent automatically rather than if a button is pushed. This could be a game changer in helping seniors live on their own longer.
Remember that tech is only helpful if it fills an existing need in your life. There are a lot of products out there, but not all are for everyone.
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