The Future Is Now! Using technology to enhance independent living and facilitate aging in place.
As we age, the overwhelming majority of us will require assistance with managing aspects of our daily lives. Mistakes in some areas, such as medication management, nutrition, and driving, can have profound consequences on health and well-being.
Fortunately, there are many available technologies and services that can help seniors successfully age in place.
Medication Management
Declining ability to manage and remember to take medications is often a bellwether of overall capability to maintain independent living. Using one of these convenient tools can enhance medication management and reduce the risk of medication errors.
MedMinder (medminder.com)
MedMinder produces several “smart” pillbox products that connect to the internet. These pillboxes can provide reminders and alert the senior and family to any missed doses. From the manufacturer: MedMinder makes it easier for your parents or loved ones to take their medications in the right amount and at the right time. With visual, audio, and phone alerts, you’ll never need to remind them when to take their meds again. And you will be notified if they missed a dosage.
Hero (herohealth.com)
The Hero product is a “smart” pill dispenser that can hold up to 90 days of medication. From the manufacturer: Hero’s smart dispenser alerts you when it's pill time with a sound and blinking light. One-button press sorts and dispenses your dose.
Pillboxes and Pill Packs
These low-tech products can be an easy way to organize medications to support compliance. However, these options can still pose a challenge if a senior is showing signs of cognitive decline and easily gets days confused or has difficulty remembering daily routines. Pillboxes can be found at any pharmacy and most pharmacies will prepare pill packs in neatly organized, date-ordered tear-off pouches.
Fall Risk
Falls are the number one cause of nursing home admission for older adults and seniors should do everything possible to avoid them. Crucial steps include: having a home safety assessment, applying necessary home modifications (e.g. grab bars), reviewing medications with doctors to discuss those that might contribute to fall risk (e.g. benzodiazepines), and ensuring the home and yard are well-lit and free of clutter.
Unfortunately, despite taking these precautions, falls can still happen. It is important to make sure that assistance is available as soon as possible so that a loved one is not left down and unattended for an extended period of time. The following products can alert family members and emergency services so that help can be provided as quickly as possible.
Safe-In-Home ( www.safeinhome.com )
Safe-In-Home is a Bay Area company that provides several products and services to enhance senior independent living. One such product is their fall mitigation product. From the manufacturer: Safe-In-Home’s Intelligent System integrates multiple technologies and sensors with 24/7 remote support specialists for superior accuracy and real-time response to help reduce the risk of falls.
Bay Alarm Medical ( www.bayalarmmedical.com )
Bay Alarm is another local company that markets several products in the home security and home health industry. Their fall detection product is a wearable technology that connects to a home base and will alert a response center should a fall be detected.
Apple Watch
From the manufacturer: If Apple Watch SE or Apple Watch Series 4 or later detects a hard fall while you're wearing your watch, it taps you on the wrist, sounds an alarm, and displays an alert. You can choose to contact emergency services or dismiss the alert by pressing the Digital Crown, tapping Close in the upper-left corner, or tapping "I'm OK." Note, someone knowledgeable with Apple technologies may need to help an older resident set up the Apple watch and this feature.
Kitchen and Meals
The kitchen can be a very challenging place for older adults with declining cognitive and physical abilities. The following products and services can make the kitchen safer while supporting meal preparation and nutrition.
Meal Delivery Services
Cooking for one or two people takes a lot of energy and time. There are several meal delivery services that send either pre-packaged or pre-measured meal prep kits right to your door; all you have to do is follow the easy instructions and enjoy your meal. For a good article summarizing the top meal delivery services for 2022, follow this link to CNET: https://www.cnet.com/health/nutrition/best-meal-kit-delivery-service/
Meals On Wheels
For some older residents, grocery shopping or even preparing meals pose significant challenges. For those seniors, a great option is to have a MOW volunteer deliver a freshly prepared, nutritious meal daily to the door. In Contra Costa, Meals on Wheels Diablo Region has provided this service to seniors for over 50 years. For more information, visit: www.mowdiabloregion.org.
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All of these products and services provide older residents with some additional support to enhance independence and promote safe aging in place. However, even with these supports, living at home may ultimately cease to be a viable option.
We Care Senior Living Advisors can help seniors and their families navigate the transition from home to assisted living. We provide support for the challenging decision of when the time is right to make a change and help you find a senior living community that will provide comfort, support, and a great quality of life to your loved one.
We Care Senior Living Advisors can be reached at (925) 236-0332 or contact us here.
Note: these recommendations for products or services are based on my own experience and opinions. I make no guarantee as to their availability, reliability, or effectiveness. I have no relationship, business or otherwise, with any of the products or services that are recommended in this article.
