How Tech Can Help The Elderly

Senior citizens aren’t exactly known for their technological prowess, but today throughout the United States, many seniors are currently benefiting from the latest advances in mobile technology. That’s because caregivers are increasingly relying on mobile apps, websites, and other “age tech” to make it easier to provide high-quality care.

What is age tech, exactly? Technically, it’s an all-encompassing term that applies to any software or hardware designed specifically for older people. It ranges from battery-powered medical alert necklaces, which senior citizens wear themselves, to smartphone apps dedicated to medication management, which their caregivers use to track dosages, refills, and more. As the pace of technology continues to speed up, every year brings new resources to caregivers and their older patients.

Whether you’re a professional caregiver or a senior citizen hoping to retain your independence, it’s important to know about the most popular age tech available today.

Mobile Apps

Smartphone apps are an increasingly common and effective way to increase independence and improve quality of life for senior citizens. You’ve heard the phrase “there’s an app for that,” but did you know there’s an app for reminding senior citizens to take their medicine, or for writing notes with a visual impairment?

As technology continues to advance, caregivers now have access to more specific and useful apps for seniors. The following are some of our favorites apps for caregivers and seniors:

Carely

Care.ly is often promoted as an app that connects seniors to their medical providers, but it’s much more than that. It’s also a social network for friends, family members, and other caregivers who can use it to update each other on an individual’s progress, share photos of happy moments, and make sure every visit, phone call, and doctor’s appointment is tracked in one place.

Carely prevents seniors from becoming socially isolated, and it also spares caregivers and family members from the inconvenience and possible communication issues that often occur when coordinating care. Instead of making ten calls, they can make a single post and deliver the information to all necessary parties.

CareZone

Unlike Carely, CareZone revolves entirely around medical updates. Caregivers use multiple features to keep track of seniors’ medical needs, including a journal, a calendar, a contacts list, and photo storage. They can grant others access to the calendar, which includes an alert system for medications. You can also copy doctor’s instructions or document symptoms in an interface that updates automatically.

Personal Caregiver

Personal Caregiver is another medical tracking app, but its focus is squarely on prescription medication. This reminder app is a sophisticated but intuitive way to collect comprehensive information about each and every prescription, from manufacturer and refill dates to possible side effects and doctor’s recommendations.

Luminosity

You don’t have to be a senior citizen to benefit from the brain-boosting power of this fun app, but its main benefits — such as improving memory and concentration — are especially useful as people get older. Luminosity “learns” each user’s cognitive abilities, then chooses from more than 50 games that are designed to gradually “train” the brain.

Sensors and Wearable Technology

Wearable devices and household sensors are not substitutes for in-person care, especially if a senior citizen needs supervision to stay safe. However, these modern innovations provide instant and intelligent feedback that people cannot. Plus, they allow many senior citizens to retain their independence longer.

Alzheimer’s Sensors

Motion sensors by SmartThings are designed to keep track of the movements of seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease. For example, one sensor may be on a keychain, activating only when a senior leaves the limits of their property. Other sensors monitor daily and nightly activities within the home, such as sensors in the bedroom that keep track of sleep patterns and wakeup times.

View the rest of this article on the Generations Healthcare blog here: http://lifegen.net/Blog/how-tech-can-help-the-elderly