by Lynn Wilson, Founder of The CareGiver Partnership
One of the many ways
technology has changed our lives is helping seniors live independently, which,
in turn, makes caregivers’ jobs a little easier.
A new wearable device helps seniors and their caregivers
keep track of their health. The Tempo wristband tracker logs a senior’s daily
activities and identifies early warning signs of health issues, which typically
begin as changes in normal behavior patterns or activities. Tempo is one of
many tools that help seniors safely age in place while providing their loved
ones with greater peace of mind.
To make aging in place — remaining safely at home at any age
— easier and more secure for seniors, caregivers and family members should
consider safety planning combined with today’s advanced independence tools. Our
goal is to help others be proactive about helping seniors remain in their homes
as long as possible, in a safe and secure environment.
Wilson offers recommendations for anyone with limited
mobility who lives independently:
- An amplified telephone not only helps the hard of hearing, some are designed to also assist the visually impaired. Features to look for include extra -loud ringers and answering machine playback, talking caller ID and keypad, flashing ring signaler, big buttons with backlighting, one-touch memory dial and emergency numbers, and hearing aid compatibility.
- Family members and friends who suspect a senior has lost
mobility and is no longer safe
alone at home should consider monitoring devices, such as Philips Lifeline. Auto-alert services like Lifeline can be manually operated or even place a call for help if a fall is detected and the pendant wearer is unable to press a button. The pendant is waterproof, always charged and stays within reach. There is a monthly fee for the Philips Lifeline service, but customers of The CareGiver Partnership receive free activation.
Lifeline is a wearable pendant.
- In-home monitoring is a fast-growing area of elderly care. Motion sensors on front doors, furniture, appliances and even pill bottles alert caregivers to changes in routines. Fall monitors, such as the Posey Keepsafe, work with pressure sensors on beds or chairs to alert caregivers to abnormal movement.
- Telemedicine — two-way interactive communication between patients and health care providers using an Internet connection — provides seniors with access to life-saving care. Telemedicine can save time and transportation costs, reduce the need for 24-hour monitoring by family members, and help improve the patient’s mental status through independent living. It also improves the outcome in time-sensitive cases such as monitoring stroke symptoms. The quicker a patient is diagnosed and sent to a hospital for treatment, the better the outcome.
There are also many low-tech options to help a senior stay
safe, such as Stander mobility products. Consider trays with built-in mobility
handles, floor-to-ceiling security poles and curved grab bars, bed rails, couch
canes and the CarCaddie portable handle.
Of the one in three adults over age 65 who fall every year,
20 to 30 percent of them will suffer moderate to severe injuries as a result,
according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Be sure to
download our free guide to preventing falls by staying healthy, making a home
safer and taking advantage of personal safety tools.
About The CareGiver
Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their
loved ones
with answers to their caregiving questions, including information about home
health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of Product
Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web site
provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most important to
caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to prostate
cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for
incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The
CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wis. Visit
http://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353. Help
support this ad-free blog by answering several questions about caregiving here. It will take
just two minutes.
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Watch this video to learn how Philips Lifeline works.
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