Don’t all older adults want to live smarter, not harder; and what could be better than to enjoy life as long as possible? Technology, especially age tech, is one way to help achieve this goal.

As an Occupational Therapist, I’ve worked with many seniors with daily difficulties. Sometimes these challenges are due to physical restrictions or cognitive decline.  Other times, the root cause may be due to a change in family dynamics or home setup.

The cause does not really matter.  Because with the introduction of Age Tech/ Smart Tech, seniors may now take advantage of various technological developments to help them thrive.

Age Tech & Smart Home Tech

Age Tech refers to technology that was created for the use of older individuals.  And Smart Home Technology refers to systems or devices that connect to a home network and can be controlled remotely or automatically. Put them together, and we start to reach our goals of living smarter, not harder.

Benefits of New Technologies

Since the pandemic, wearable gadgets, smart home technologies, and telemedicine have become commonplace, so much so that we may not even be aware that it falls under these terms. This technology may assist anyone in their efforts to stay independent, stay connected to loved ones, and manage their health better.

The Jetsons Lifestyle Is Here!

Do you remember the Jetsons cartoon from the 1960s?  This futuristic family had all sorts of technology from smart watches to video calls which are part of our real life now.

Here are examples of available Age Tech/Smart Tech that you could think about putting in place today to make a difference for tomorrow.

1. Smart Watches

Smart watches are wearable devices come with a wide range of health monitoring features. Some of these include heart rate monitoring, Blood pressure tracking, and can even detect irregular heart rhythms (within reason).

A favorite function worth mentioning is that many have fall detection and emergency “SOS” alerts to help you get immediate assistance in case of an emergency.

2. Smart Home Technology

Smart Home Technology covers devices like smart locks and thermostats, home monitoring systems, and voice assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Nest.

Have short- or long-term mobility challenges? These devices allow you to control various aspects of the home with just your voice.

Imagine opening a door, adjusting the temperature, and turning lights on and off with timers or your voice. “Hey Google, turn on the lights.”

3. Telemedicine

This Age Tech feature — telemedicine — has grown in popularity since the pandemic. It started as a necessity to protect our most vulnerable. For many, it has become the preferred way to handle minor ailments and sicknesses.

Telemedicine allows us to receive consultations and treatment in our homes. The only requirement is having access to a computer, smart phone, an  iPad or other tablet, or other such intelligent devices.

4. Medication Management Systems

If you are like me, sometimes it’s hard to remember if and when you took your medications. When we use medication management systems to help us, we can get reminders when it’s time to take our pills.

Some systems can even dispense medications automatically. These devices keep us on track to help us lead healthier lives.

5. Mobility Aides

Believe it or not, mobility aides are considered part of Age Tech. May of these aides are lower on the technology complexity scale. But they are very useful options to solve a wide range of mobility concerns.

Wheelchairs, power chairs, stair-lifts, walkers, and canes have become normalized in our lives or homes. So, they fall under the assistive technology category of Age Tech.

A Smarter Way to Live

By investing in Age Tech or Smart Tech, seniors and their family  can make a difference for tomorrow.  There are ways that older adults can enjoy a better quality of life using today’s technology.

 

Contributed by:

Dawn Heiderscheidt OTR/L, ECHM, CAPS

As a seasoned Occupational Therapist with years of experience in traditional healthcare settings, Dawn is passionate about helping people live independently in their own homes, She turned that passion into a successful mobile home modifications business when she founded Aurora Independence, leveraging her expertise in home modifications and Universal Design to help clients Age in place.

Dawn is the Owner/Founder of Aurora Independence: “Empowering your independence, enhancing your home.”

Dawn’s approach is client-centered and evidenced-based, ensuring that every project is personalized to the unique needs of her clients. She provides home accessibility and home safety consulting on construction projects, additions, and other modifications advocating for proper accessibility at every stage to ensure a safe and comfortable living environment.

Dawn’s drive to help the Aging in Place market is rooted in their personal experience of caring for her parents, her background as a rehab professional, and her own experience navigating the healthcare spaces. Her empathy and dedication to her clients are matched only by her expertise.

She shares this expertise as s guest speaker on entrepreneurship at the university level as a national continuing education provider for fellow healthcare and remodeling professionals.

At Aurora Independence, Dawn’s passion for empowering independence is more than just a business- it’s a way of life.

 

SOURCE: Jetsons photo:  Attribution-N0nCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Friends Life Care  posts on the eMeetinghouse blog. as another way to share health, wellness and prevention information with aging adults.  Friends Life Care is a mission-driven Quaker value based nonprofit that — for over 30 years — has been helping seniors — especially Friends Life Care members — to thrive at home as they age.  If you are not yet a Friends Life Care member, connect with us and get the answers you need from one of our Plan Counselors on the benefits of joining.  

Membership is open to people aged 40 – 85, in reasonably good health who are residents of southeastern Pennsylvania or Delaware.