Guest Blog: How Technology is Changing Elderly Care
Applying new technologies to in home senior care has significantly contributed to the quality of life by enhancing their daily living needs such as transportation, communication, health, and social participation. Telemedicine, voice command technologies, blood pressure cuffs, remote glucose monitors are some of the few technologies that have impacted elderly care. This article discusses various ways in which technology is changing elderly care.
Technologies are filling the caregiver gap
There is a massive growth of the elderly population which has increased the demand for caregivers. According to research by AARP, there will be about 50 million caregivers in the US by 2020, 45 million of them being unpaid family members. At the same time, there will be 120 million people in need of a caregiver. Many companies have therefore used their knowledge to create technologies that have smoothen caregiver’s work. These technologies have been designed to solve or ease various elderly needs, such as keeping track of their daily activities, medication, exercise programs, and monitoring meals.
Devices prevent wandering
Seniors with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease always need to escape a situation because they are confused or disoriented. These diseases common in the elderly erase their memory-making familiar places to be unfamiliar. These cognitive impairments make the elderly lose direction and could apt walk to dangerous places. In an aged care facility, to be precise, the seniors wander because of inactivity or boredom. Wandering gives caregivers and relatives an alarm for fear that the senior will get hurt or get lost. To address this problem, several devices have been developed, and they include bed and door alarms.
Some pendants provide GPS for the elderly, especially those under medication and prone to getting lost. Some of these apps with GPS location include angel sense, GPS Smart sole, MedicAlert safely home, and others are still under development by HCI (Human-Computer Interaction) experts.
Cameras that protect the elderly from abuse
Due to other duties you need to attend to, it is impossible to stay around nursing the aged. Small cameras are one of the most significant ways to ensure that the older person is adequately cared for. You will have to place cameras in indiscreet locations. This camera will take footage of daily activities, and thus you will be able to know that the caregiver you hired or some family members are not mistreating your elderly loved ones.
Remote technology offers 24/7 protection
Caregiving from a distance has always had innumerable challenges. Senior safety tech industries have made life easy for caregivers by developing caregiver alert systems and elderly monitoring systems. There are different options to ensure that the elderly is safe and in good health while you are away. Monitoring devices used include:
- Sensors that turn off stoves if they are left for too long.
- Sensors to inform you if the elderly left the water running.
- Locked medication dispensers equipped with alarms and timers for missed doses.
- Voice-activated virtual assistants.
- Intelligent sensors that learn the elderly routine.
Smartphones to promote self-care
Smartphones are handy for seniors. It helps them stay connected with their grandchildren by video chatting, controlling other intelligent devices, monitoring health through pastern, and lots of features that improve the quality of life for the elderly.
Other benefits of smartphones to the seniors include:
- Making emergency calls.
- Using GPS to navigate when driving or walking.
- Accessing the internet.
- Looking at date and time.
The top features of a senior smartphone include:
- Simple menus.
- Larger buttons and screens.
- Emergency button.
- Fitness and health tracking tools.
Smartphones can serve the purpose of entertainment to seniors. Seniors can now break boredom through games, audiobooks, podcasts, and social media. This is mainly for those who are living alone. They also come pre-installed with a virtual assistant that responds to voice commands and questions.
In addition to the above technologies, the best way to avoid the elderly being mistreated is to hire a caregiver whose background check has been thoroughly conducted. Some online platforms specialize in this area, for instance, Caregiver, engaging in home-care services for the seniors. They provide the simplest and most effective way to find the right caregiver for your loved ones. In short, Caregiver empowers you to find the best in-home senior care.
Conclusion
Technology advancements have influenced how family caregivers and health care providers approach eldercare. It has bridged the caregiver gap and allowed seniors to age gracefully. These technologies have provided a mechanism for caregivers to assess the health of the elderly and provide appropriate medication.
Engaging the Faith-Based Nurse: Exploring Nursing as Ministry.
Listen to the webinar from authors Kristen Mauk and Mary Hobus, Engaging the Faith-Based Nurse: Exploring Nursing as Ministry.
Nursing as Ministry provides the foundations of Christian nursing as ministry, taking an interprofessional perspective with 29 contributors from backgrounds in theology, nursing, medicine, social work, and pastoral ministry. Designed to be a student-friendly textbook for faith-based schools, this first edition text focuses on the spiritual aspects of patient care, providing practical information ministering to specific populations. The reader is guided through topics such as homelessness, substance abuse, community health, vulnerable elders, prison ministry, culturally sensitive care, and more. Additionally, the text is designed to guide the reader through their own spiritual journey, with personal reflection questions in each chapter to help students and nurses to internalize the content.
With a need for a contemporary, evidence-based text on nursing ministry, this first edition offers an abundance of resources including critical reasoning exercises, interviews with nurse leaders, case studies, suggestions for faith integration in daily nursing care, and more.
Features and Benefits:
Video interviews with Christian nursing leaders
Scripture integrated throughout the chapters
Personal stories of nurse leaders woven throughout the text
Navigate 2 Advantage Access
Each new print copy includes Navigate 2 Advantage Access, unlocking a comprehensive and interactive eBook, student practice activities and assessments, a full suite of instructor resources, and learning analytics reporting tools.
Guest Blog: Four Top Nutrition Tips for Seniors
By Eric Daw
For individuals over the age of 60, the benefits of eating healthy foods includes resistance to disease and illness, higher energy levels, increased mental acuteness, faster recuperation times and higher energy levels. Healthy eating does not have to be all about sacrifice and strict dieting. Think of it as a way to enjoy colorful, fresh foods, eating with friends and more creativity in the kitchen.
The road to healthy eating can be a bit confusing for those who are not accustomed to it. Below are a few tips and tricks to help you start your journey into the world of healthy eating and to promote optimal health.
1. Limit sodium content
Because many seniors suffer from high blood pressure, they should make sure to consume foods low in sodium. Restaurant food, frozen, and processed foods are usually high in sodium and should be avoid or used in moderation. Fruits and vegetables are naturally low in sodium, so try to incorporate several servings of each throughout the day.
2. Stay hydrated
Although seniors may not get as thirsty as they once did, their bodies still need the same amount of water. One of the main signs of dehydration is dark urine or excessive tiredness. Try to drink at least eight glasses of fresh water throughout the day. Foods that are high in water content, such as cucumbers and watermelon, may be consumed several times per week to aid in hydration.
3. Eat more fiber
Eating high fiber foods has more benefits than keeping your bowels regular. Fiber can also lower your risk of developing diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. The digestive system slows as you age, meaning it is important to supplement with foods high in dietary fiber in order to maintain regular bowel movements and overall health.
4. Eat high quality protein
Consuming high-quality protein has been proven to help boost your resistance to stress, anxiety and depression, and can even help you think more clearly. When combined with a strength-training routine, protein has been shown to reduce muscle loss and maintain physical function. Some examples of high quality protein are eggs, milk, and meat, which should be incorporated in your daily nutritional intake.
About the Author: Eric Daw is an active aging specialist and the owner of Omni Fitt. Omni Fitt is dedicated to the wellbeing, health and quality of life of people aged 55 and over. Eric motivates and empowers the older adult population to take responsibility for their independence, health and fitness through motivating and positive coaching experiences.