Skip to main content

New Home Care Technology to Keep an Eye On

By Anonymous
There seems to be an obvious disconnect between the older generations and technology, as they were never brought up with it as a part of their everyday life. Technology plays a key role in most aspects of our life and has recently become a critical part of the Home Care world. This new technology can have incredible benefits for aging adults who are trying to live life in their own home. There are several new technological advancements that will ultimately help make elderly people’s lives better and safer and here are just a few that I thought offer the most benefits.

1.       CareInnovations Health Harmony: This technology system platform simplifies patient monitoring by enabling patients, care providers, and family caregivers to collaborate for better care in the home within normal daily routines. It connects patients, care givers and families through an easy-to-use interface where they can share health data, educational information and best practices customized to individual situations.

2.       Healthsense eNeighbor Dashboard: This innovative piece of technology provides daily sensor information to deliver instant insight into the health status of the patients.  This allows the patients to remain healthy and independent in their preferred care setting. It provides a complete picture of activity changes, improves caregivers productivity with a daily prioritized list and compliments existing care plans by capturing real-time observations.

3.       Lifely Safety Watch: This personal emergency response wearable helps keep older adults safe and connected. It looks like your everyday watch and this allows it to fit an independent lifestyle, while giving family members peace of mind. This is similar to Life Alert, as it includes a button for 24/7 emergency response, but it has the added benefit of missed medication reminders as well as a pedometer for step counting. Toward the end of this year, it will also include advanced fall-detection to help avoid having to push a button.

a.       Lifely also allows family members to monitor their parents or older family members from a far. Numerous family members have to deal with their parents or loved one’s living far away and it is not always easy to ensure they are safe. Sure, calling a few times a day adds peace of mind, but it doesn’t truly ensure safety. Lifely has come up with a solution. They offer six sensors that can be placed around the house, such as on pill boxes, the refrigerator, the bathroom door and key chains. Then you are able to log onto a website and monitor their activity. You are able to see how many times the refrigerator door is opened, when someone goes into the bathroom or heads out the door. The company can then alert by text, email or phone if something is out of the ordinary.


All of these incredibly beneficial technological advancements will not guarantee safety and certainly would not allow people in need of care to live on their own completely. However, if they are coupled with the correct personal in-home care, they could add not only peace of mind, but important safety features to ensure a happy and productive life in the comfort of their home.

Abrahms, Sally. "New Technology Allows in Home Health Care for Aging in Place - AARP." AARP. AARP, Mar. 2014. Web. 13 Mar. 2015. <http://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2014/is-this-the-end-of-the-nursing-home.html>.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Journey To Nursing by Kim Bechard, RN

By
Nursing has always been a part of who I am. When I was very young, several of my aunts worked in nursing and I always had a deep admiration for them. In high school, I began taking health occupation classes and knew from that moment on, that I wanted to become a nurse. After high school, I began attending a community college, working on my nursing degree. Due to a lengthy waiting list for the RN program, I decided to apply for the LPN program. I was accepted and graduated a year later. While studying for my boards, I worked as a CNA in a nursing home. After working as an LPN for approximately fifteen years, I finally graduated with my BSN degree. I have always felt the need to care for others. My mother passed away when I was a baby and I lived with my grandmother thereafter and cared for her during her final moments when I was only thirteen years old. I have now worked as a nurse for almost twenty years and I really don’t know if I could do anything else. Being a part of TLC gives m...
Post a Comment
Read more

Becoming a caregiver By: MaryAlice Callahan

By
Becoming a caregiver By: MaryAlice Callahan I became a caregiver because I knew that it was a career that I would be great at.  I worked on Hematology/Oncology for a few years and would see people that needed my help, but because I was a secretary and not a licensed caregiver I was not allowed to help.  It really bothered me because I saw the hurt and pain in their eyes and I would want so badly to be able to fulfill their request, big or small.   After my years at the hospital, I became a Medical assistant for an OB/GYN in South Burlington. I worked alongside with her, and again was in the presence of people who at times needed  tremendous support, and this time I was able to help them.  I also worked as a cosmetic laser tech in her office, and I loved the feeling when they saw their acne scars erased or spider veins that have embarrassed them forever disappear. I felt that there was an intimate exchange of energy between myself and them.  There...
Post a Comment
Read more

Aging on the Dirt Road Less Traveled

By
  By Rosaline Lee, LPN                      Rural isolation and rugged independence can be barriers to serving seniors in Vermont… Guy R. lives alone in his home in Calais, Vermont. As I drive down the road to his home, I notice evidence of washouts caused by recent heavy rains.  There is no cell reception or street lights in this area, as in much of Vermont. Guy’s home is a simple farmhouse that has obviously seen better days.  The paint is peeling, the porch is rotting and the lawn is unkempt. Guy greets me happily and proceeds to tell me the history of how this property is tied to his family. “My grandfather built this place in the 1800’s, just look at the fireplace that he put in, it’s amazing that it’s still standing. I’m still standing too.” His enthusiasm wanes when you see him look around the living room.  He sighs and says, “I know I’m not much of a housekeeper, Betty used to do everything aroun...
Post a Comment
Read more