Many Canadian seniors want to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. Modern technology has made aging in place a lot easier than it used to be. There are now many exciting technology advances that can help your aging parents live independently. If you’re caring for your parents, either alone or with the help of an at-home senior care service, technology can make everyone’s life easier. Here are some of the advances that can make at-home senior care easier.
Digital Medication Dispensers
Do your parents have trouble remembering when to take their medications? Two-thirds of Canadians over 65 take at least five different prescription medications, while more than 40 percent of Canadians over 85 take at least 10 medications. With so many different medications, it’s no wonder that seniors sometimes have trouble keeping track.
Digital medication dispensers are a high-tech way to help your parents remember to take their medications. Dispensers give your parents voice alerts or visual prompts when it’s time to take their medications, and the machine dispenses the appropriate medication. The instructions that apply to each medication, like “take with food,” can also be easily programmed by caregivers.
Environmental Control Systems
At-home senior care workers can help your parents with tasks like turning on the lights or changing the temperature inside the house, but your parents probably want to maintain some of their independence. With environmental control systems, they can perform a variety of actions on their own.
There are different types of environmental control systems. Some can control electronic devices around the home, like televisions, computers, electric beds, DVD players, and thermostats. Other models can open curtains, open doors, or turn on lamps. When you’re shopping for an environmental control system, take your parents’ needs into account.
Home Sensors
Are you worried that your parents will hurt themselves when they’re home alone? Home sensors give you a way to monitor your parents when you’re not able to be there in person. Sensors can also be helpful if your parents don’t want at-home senior care overnight.
Sensors can be installed on windows and doors, and if they’re opened in the middle of the night, you’ll get an alert. You can also have sensors installed throughout the home, like on the medicine cabinet or under the pillows, to watch for potential issues. For example, if the sensor determines that your parent didn’t get in bed, you’ll get an alert to check on them.
Wearable Health Devices
Wearable health devices aren’t just for people who are trying to get fit. There are models of wearable health devices that can help you monitor your parents’ health. Wearables can monitor vital signs like heart rate and blood oxygen level. Some models also have an urgent response button that your parents can push when they need you.
Some wearables can learn your parents’ regular routines and alert you when something has changed. They can learn about your parents’ regular sleep times, typical locations, normal motions, and typical activities. If your parents don’t go to sleep at their normal time, or if they’re not at home when they typically would be, you can get an alert.
GPS Trackers
You’ve probably used GPS to find your way through an unfamiliar part of town, but GPS isn’t just useful for getting directions. It’s also useful for tracking your parents’ movements to make sure they’re not wandering too far from home or getting lost. This is very important if you’re worried that your parents are losing their memories or getting confused.
GPS trackers can be attached to clothes, stored in purses or pockets, or even stored inside the heels of shoes. You can then monitor your parents’ locations through your computer or through an app on your phone.
