Discover the latest technology and senior caregiving tools.
Now more than ever, health and wellness information is being consumed independently by patients and their home or hospice caregivers, about three-in-four of whom do their own medical research online. Meanwhile, the Internet of Things (IoT) accelerates these changes, which are revolutionizing the way care can be provided to seniors and hospice patients at home, where folks are increasingly surrounded by smart tech. Keep reading to learn about some ways that caregiving tools and technology can help senior caregivers succeed.
1. Keep the Right Company Seniors tend to face many unique health risks. Studies show that these include loneliness and social isolation. Fortunately, there are many ways to combat these health hazards. Quality time spent in person is ideal, but it’s not always available. The good news is that there is a demonstrated link between virtual interaction, such as video chats, emailing, and social media use, and reduced loneliness and improved mental and physical health—especially for seniors.
2. Electronic Watchdogs Independent living is a big priority for many seniors, and understandably so. Caregivers will naturally want to help make this possible. One set of powerful tools in this effort are remote home monitoring systems like TruSense and Canary Care. This technology establishes an electronic safety net by communicating with devices placed throughout the home to perform a variety of security tasks. Sensors detect warning signs such as long periods of inactivity by a senior. Smart devices respond to voice commands, like calls for assistance from seniors, control appliances, and more.
3. Med (Re)Minders When it’s time to administer medication, modern in-home tech can come to the assistance of caregivers again. TabSafe, MedMinder, and similar systems can be configured to provide automated reminders to take or dispense prescription medication. And as usual, there’s an app for that: MedCoach makes these tools available on smartphones and tablets.
4. Receive Care at Home The new field of telemedicine makes real-time, remote consultations with medical professionals possible. Healthcare organizations benefit from this emerging technology, as do underserved patients such as senior and hospice patients living in rural areas. Teletherapy, or remote psychiatric care, has been shown to be an effective treatment tool for depression in seniors. Telehealth also provides remote monitoring of health conditions, including chronic conditions like diabetes. All these tools help establish continuity of care while reducing the incidence of ER visits and other costly and potentially unnecessary hospitalizations.
Learn More: Telehealth Rehabilitation
Senior caregivers know that there’s no one-size-fits-all tool for helping their patients achieve the good health and independence they deserve. But there are more digital caregiving tools than ever for providing an excellent standard of care. Used in the right combination with traditional methods and solutions, modern health tech can have a powerful impact on your senior’s long-term wellness. Guest Author: Christian Golden, PhD, writes about tips and trends in digital marketing and social media for TrustRadius. He is a philosopher by day who loves teaching and digging into the big questions. His extracurricular interests include making music, reading comics, watching (really old) movies, and being in the great outdoors.