Technology is at the forefront of all major life changes. Aging in America has been transformed by new technologies and devices that have made seniors’ lives more comfortable than ever before, and increased independence for those who live on their own.
When older adults retire, their level of comfort is increased by new technologies that make it easier to live with physical and mental disabilities – from eyeglasses for reading or computers designed specifically for accessibility issues.
Here are some of the new technologies that improve seniors’ quality of life.
DIGITAL HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEMS
Remote patient monitoring devices provide constant monitoring of vital functions and can remind you to take a pill or injection or measure blood sugar levels. In addition, the use of such systems provides a significant amount of valuable information for doctors, who can monitor the dynamics of the patient’s condition over time.
Another considerable advantage is the ability to signal an alarm in the event of a sharp deterioration in the patient’s condition – a fall, injury, change in vitals, etc. It can be expected that such wearable digital health monitoring systems and systems that provide continuous receipt and analysis of information will be actively developed.
This is the kind of technology that makes the transition of patient care to home care much easier.
SMART HOME THERMOSTATS
A new study from the University of Waterloo (Canada) has shown that smart home thermostats can be used to monitor the health of the elderly and patients undergoing treatment at home.
Using data from a smart thermostat sensor and creating algorithms using software, researchers can identify typical user behaviors such as sleep, physical activity, and sedentary lifestyles. This approach will allow healthcare providers to monitor the patient’s health at home and quickly analyze data to develop a personalized treatment plan or track patient progress over time.
It may be a great idea to add a smart digital thermostat to your or a loved one’s home.
SOCIAL MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES & OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES
These technologies facilitate communication and access to information for the elderly. Social media technologies include connecting to online healthcare providers and chatting with other patients to conduct web research.
The ability to communicate with other people is beneficial to their health, socializing is a great way to stay socially engaged and healthy. Social isolation can lead the elderly to depression, cognitive decline, or disease. For some seniors, the opportunity to hear other people with the same disease, to listen to their experience, can be a great consolation.
Online communication can take place through special chats in real-time.
SMART HOME SYSTEMS FOR THE ELDERLY
A smart home makes many household activities more accessible and reduces the burden associated with housekeeping. With a smart home, the family of an older adult does not have to worry about accidents because a system can prevent and detect fires, floods, and gas leaks. The system also monitors illegal entry into the house, which is very important for the elderly.
PREPARING FOR THE END OF LIFE
This is a sad but inevitable stage for everyone. Therefore, the use of digital service technologies must simplify as much as possible the procedures for settling your affairs such as disposing of property or taking care of estate planning documents. Several financial startups are already successfully offering similar services. Services like LegalZoom make this process easy for you through digital technology that simplifies processes as much as possible.
CYBERSECURITY TECHNOLOGIES FOR SENIORS
It is critical to ensure maximum protection against cybercriminals: studies show that older people trust fake information and news, and are more likely to be the victims of fraudulent online activities.
With age, older people undergo specific changes in the brain, which prevent them from correctly determining whether a person is trustworthy. If they are already accustomed to a friendly environment around them, then, as a rule, they are more trusting. This means that they are more likely to trust the crooks and scammers on the internet.
CONCLUSION
While most people don’t think that aging and technology go hand in hand, the truth is that the interests of generations change almost as quickly as the technology itself. Each of the technologies mentioned above provides understandable value for older people. These technologies not only give older people a positive way to spend their time, but they also give them access to cognitive benefits without letting them go sour on their own.
