It’s common for physicians and caregivers to assume that seniors won’t be able to use new technologies. This idea isn’t just misguided. It can also be quite harmful since seniors are one of the demographics that can benefit the most from new at-home health technologies. Read on to find out about five examples of at-home health tech that are perfect for seniors.
Monitors and Sensors
Modern wearable devices can monitor seniors’ vital signs and alert their doctors automatically if any significant changes in temperature, pulse rate, or blood pressure occur. Wearable tech isn’t the only type of monitor that can benefit seniors, though. Many seniors now keep monitors and sensors throughout their homes to track things like medication management and movement throughout the property. Seniors who feel uncomfortable with this level of technological monitoring can also head online to look for senior living options that ensure safety without compromising privacy.
Online Portals
Physicians can be skeptical about asking their senior patients to use online portals, but these patient engagement tools are actually perfect for seniors. As long as healthcare providers offer plenty of resources for user education, most senior patients have no problem getting the hang of online portals and mobile apps. Online patient portals don’t just help seniors keep track of things like medication refills and doctors’ appointments without having to waste their time calling the office. They can also be a great resource for learning about health conditions and safety precautions from a reputable source.
Virtual Rehab
Virtual reality (VR) is still in its infancy, but physical therapists are already finding ways to harness the power of VR to help patients undergoing physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy improve their lives. The incorporation of AI into VR rehab technologies allows providers to tailor exercises to patients’ specific therapeutic needs, record physiological and kinematic responses, and monitor progress using specific metrics to ensure the best results. VR rehab allows seniors recovering from strokes or managing neurodegenerative diseases to relearn how to perform basic tasks in a safe, controlled environment and turns the rehabilitation process into a game to help improve therapy adherence.
Proactive Cognitive AI Products
Proactive cognitive AI products like ElliQ can help seniors engage in healthy behaviors, offer medication reminders, and make it easier to stay in touch with family members, friends, healthcare providers, and others. These systems are equipped to conduct pleasant conversations, offer prompts to go for walks or check-in with remote caregivers, and more. Some can even be integrated with smartphones to send photos and conduct video chats.
Urgent Response Systems
Urgent response systems are already becoming popular among seniors and their caregivers. Some are incorporated into phones designed for seniors, while others operate independently. What they have in common is that they can be programmed with emergency numbers and typically come equipped with GPS technology that allows caregivers or emergency personnel to find the device and administer help to its owner as quickly as possible in the event of a serious fall or another emergency.
The Bottom Line
Whether seniors choose to age in place or move into senior living communities, they can take advantage of modern technology to improve healthcare outcomes. Technology is advancing rapidly and today’s innovations will soon be outdated, so caregivers and seniors, themselves, should keep an eye on promising products and innovative devices.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
