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Home Technology That Can Help Seniors Stay at Home
Even if you are considered a senior, you likely still have a couple of decades of life to enjoy, and you may want to spend as much of it in your home as you can. For some older adults, ongoing health concerns mean that aging might require advanced care that can’t be given in the home. However, if you are still relatively healthy, you may find that aging in place gives you a better experience and is more affordable than an assisted living or nursing home. There are more products out there than ever that can help you maintain your independence for as long as you can.
Home Lifts
For many adults, needing a walker or wheelchair is a big reason to consider selling the house and moving into an assisted living home. It might be difficult or impossible to complete tasks like laundry or cleaning when everything is on different levels. However, a lift can often be the difference between staying in your home and having to leave. By living at home with a wheelchair lift, it is much easier than trying to do without, and there are plenty of options to choose from.
Monitoring Systems
A monitoring system consists of a series of sensors around the home, which can monitor your habits and movement. You can find systems with and without cameras if privacy is a concern. Placing sensors on your bed can help you determine how well you sleep each night, and on the floor can detect a fall. The technology used in them is getting better, and they do not result in as many false alarms as in the past. If you have a loved one living far away, these systems can give them peace of mind, even when you are not responding to their messages.
Wearable Health
Wearable devices can track everything from sleep patterns to blood pressure to hydration levels to oxygen. These monitors can often communicate with your healthcare provider to allow them to provide you with more informed care. There are many types of monitoring, but when a sensor is keeping track of your vitals, a healthcare provider may only need to see you if there is an issue. This gives you more time to focus on life while your monitor tracks in the background.
Medicine Dispensers
Many seniors struggle with remembering to take their medications, but missing your medication could be dangerous. On the other hand, lapses in memory could lead to you taking a second dose that way. While this is one reason some older adults choose in-home caregivers, you can also rely on technology. If you feel like a reminder would be helpful to you, you can set a mobile device to ring at the time of your dosage. Or if you take multiple doses at different times, you could use a medication dispensing system. These systems will let you know when it is time to take your medicine, and it will give you the correct amount of dosage.
