Connecticut caregivers trying to keep an aging loved one safe at home are turning to technology for help. Innovative technology solutions for everything from wandering to medication reminders to kitchen safety are making it possible for seniors to age in place.
In-home elder care technology typically falls in to five categories:
- Emergency response
- Remote monitoring
- Home safety
- Fall prevention
- Medication dispensing
These are critical areas that family caregivers often struggle to find solutions for their senior loved one. Elder care technology can give caregivers peace of mind that their elderly family member is safe.
Emergency response – Elder care products that fall in to this category can help protect a senior loved one against burglary, fire, and carbon monoxide. They can also be used to summon help in a medical emergency. The medical alert pendants and wristbands offered by Assisted Living Technologies are waterproof making them safe to use in the shower.
Remote monitoring – Staying connected with the loved one you provide care for has been a difficult part of caregiving for many families. Most adult children work and have families of their own. They can’t be present in a parent’s home 24/7. Remote monitoring systems make it possible for you to feel like you always know what is going on. The best systems work off sensors that track and transmit information on what your loved one is doing throughout their day. It will alert you if exterior doors are opened at night or if they haven’t made it out of bed yet that day.
Fall Prevention – If you are a Connecticut caregiver, you’ve probably already heard the frightening statistics on falls among the elderly. According to the National Council on Aging, an older adult dies every 29 minutes from a fall. Every 15 seconds an older adult receives treatment in an emergency room for a fall-related injury. Those are very grim statistics. Elder care technology solutions range from cordless bed sensor pads to motion sensors and pagers.
Home Safety – If your senior cooks their own meals at home, you may want to consider CookStop. By continuously scanning the kitchen for movement, CookStop can help to prevent fires caused when an aging loved one leaves something cooking on the stove and forgets about it. CookStop will automatically turn the burner off at a designated length of time if it hasn’t detected movement in the room.
Medication Dispensing – For adult children, the worry over whether or not an aging parent is taking their medications as prescribed is a top concern. These products range from simple locked dispensers to more advanced systems that sound alarms and send emails if a medication isn’t taken.
Caregivers, have you tried technology to help with in-home elder care?
We would love to hear how it is working for you!
For more information about elder care technology, please contact myself or anyone on the Assisted Living Technologies team.
