Technological Solutions That Are Proving Helpful To Seniors

Written by: Melissa Andrews

If we could have things our way, none of us would want to age. We like the idea of being forever young, and many among us would do whatever they can to slow down—even stop—the hands of time.

Still, aging is an inevitable part of life for many. While getting older does have its benefits, the fact that the elderly are bound to face increasing physical and mental challenges as they age remains.

Fortunately for today's seniors, there are plenty of technological advances that can help them perform certain tasks, keep up with much-needed health-related routines, and stay safe and secure, among other things.

With better and more widespread technology for seniors, our elderly loved ones have access to an improved quality of life as they age in place.

Let’s take a look at some of the technological solutions that assist the elderly in specific areas of their daily lives.

Medication Management Apps

For most people who reach a certain age, taking maintenance medications is typically a part of their daily routines.

The problem is, taking their meds at the exact time and frequency their doctors ordered can prove to be challenging.

Many seniors rely on pillboxes, but modern technology is giving them a much better option in the form of medication management apps.

A typical medication management app doesn’t just remind users when it’s time to take their meds. Such an app may have features like tracking prescriptions, sending out an alert when it’s time for a refill, or send push notifications should the user miss a dosage.

Other such apps are even capable of keeping track of a user’s weight, glucose levels, or blood pressure.

Health Monitoring Tools

Some tech solutions for seniors focus solely on monitoring their physical and mental health.

For seniors who love to engage in physical activity like walking and other aerobic exercises, you might want to consider providing them a wearable gadget that will keep track of their heart rate. That way, they can avoid getting carried away by their rising adrenaline levels and overdoing their workouts in the process.

Also available are apps and cloud-based health tracking systems that prove useful in monitoring and storing critical medical information such as blood pressure, glucose levels, and medication schedules, among other things. These apps also make it easier for users to share their data with family members and doctors.

GPS Trackers

It is not unheard of for seniors living with Alzheimer’s or any other type of dementia to wander off and unwittingly put themselves in harm’s way.

Thanks to advancements in GPS technology, families of seniors with dementia stand a better chance of avoiding losing their elderly loved ones in that manner.

Besides heightened accuracy in tracking and pinpointing people’s locations, today’s GPS tracking devices are also small enough to be placed on clothing, shoes, bags, and other accessories.

With a GPS tracking device, you can easily monitor every move of your senior loved one who’s living with dementia on your phone or tablet.

The apps that work with these devices also typically send out updates about your senior’s whereabouts as well as alerts should he or she wander off.

Home Security & Alert Systems

When seniors decide to age in place, it’s normal for us to worry about their safety, especially when they’re doing it without a caregiver.

The risk of a home invasion is a typical concern, but it’s hardly the only one.

Most accidents happen at home. Your elderly loved one could slip and fall, and no one would be able to help them out quickly enough if they live alone.

Thankfully, there are several technological solutions to help keep your seniors safe and secure.

A reliable home security system with sensors and alarms that will keep intruders away would be a great start.

For the ability to call for help during emergencies, your elderly loved one can use a Personal Emergency Response System or PERS.

A PERS is made up of a small radio transmitter with a help button, and a console hooked up to the telephone. The battery-powered transmitter is typically lightweight and small enough to be worn around a user’s neck, wrist, or stashed in a pocket.

When seniors need help for any emergency, all they need to do is press the transmitter’s help button to send a signal to the console, which will then automatically dial pre-programmed emergency telephone numbers of an emergency response center, who will then send help.

Video Chat Apps

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it even more difficult for seniors to spend time with their loved ones in person.

Fortunately, video chat apps, Zoom, in particular, have given seniors and their loved ones the means to have face-to-face interactions even as the coronavirus continues to affect our daily lives.

With the help of video chat apps, we can help our senior loved ones avoid feelings of isolation and loneliness.

The technological solutions mentioned above are great, but it’s safe to say that they’re only the beginning. At the rate technology is evolving, we can only expect more innovations that will make our seniors' lives even better than before.

About the Author

Melissa Andrews is the Content Marketing Strategist for Paradise Living Centers, an assisted living center for seniors with locations in Paradise Valley and Phoenix, Arizona. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and going on hiking trips with her siblings and cousins.