Seniors in the United States have a growing population of 43 million. The yearly increase in the senior population is caused by the baby boomer generation, half of whom are not considered seniors yet.
People who take care of their seniors have been following a routine for centuries now. The doctors and caregivers provide such services when a senior encounters several issues, such as memory loss, impaired vision or hearing, weakened mobility, and loneliness.
The baby boomer generation is aging at the perfect time, along with the development and progress of technology. The advancement of technology helps take care of our seniors, sometimes even without human interaction.
Internet Provision of Medical Needs
The Internet can surprisingly provide almost everything we need through our laptops and even our smartphones. The event created the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), where people take advantage of this feature for medical benefits.
Professionals in the medical field can gain more knowledge through connections with each other. With this, the medical industry is experiencing monitoring patients remotely. It is also easier for them to maintain connectedness with the use of remote equipment, making it easier for stakeholders to increase their visibility and provide better perceptions of medical testing, diet programs, and patient records.
The Internet of Medical Things is a big help to the medical world in providing assistance for seniors with their vital signs, medication schedules, and other medical needs.
Global Positioning System Services
The Global Positioning System Services (GPSS) has drastically improved in the last ten years, providing location accuracy and the satellite’s detailed feed throughout the country.
The GPS services can help locate a lost senior. It is a fact that plenty of seniors develop memory issues as they age. There are many instances when seniors, particularly those who suffer from cognitive decline, make a habit of wandering around because they are disoriented. With the help of GPSS technology, wandering seniors can easily be detected, decreasing the chance of them getting into any serious trouble.
Digital Cameras
Unfortunately, elder abuse can happen everywhere. Installing a camera in their bedroom and common rooms can help monitor for abuse. Digital cameras can quickly identify the perpetrators of abuse, particularly when your elderly family member can no longer communicate such instances to their loved ones.
Digital cameras assure the senior’s family that their elderly loved one is well-taken care of by their caregivers.
Intuitive Assistants
Many elderly people take a while to recover because their medication compliance is low. With intuitive assistants, seniors can be reminded of their medication schedule, increasing their compliance and allowing them to recover from their ailments faster.
Aside from medication reminders, there are ambient intelligent applications that can act like a robot sidekick to elderly patients, helping them cope with aging better by providing answers to their pressing questions.
Smartphone Apps
Smartphone apps are among the most significant improvements in modern technology that provide seniors with a variety of help. Some apps can monitor seniors’ health by checking their medication, health rate, and the precision of their senior location.
Families and caregivers benefit from these apps by collecting data from their elderly and transmitting them to the senior’s doctor. With this data, the healthcare provider can readily provide necessary care while closely monitoring the patient’s progress.
Seniors living in adult family homes like Long House can benefit from these technologies since they can have virtual assistants to provide care for the elderly. Technology is already a part of our living, and leveraging it to make our life easier should be the goal.
