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Newest Gadgets and Apps for Healthcare Seniors

Keeping tabs on Mom just got easier! Call them peace-of-mind digital devices and software apps. “Aging in place” technology allows parents to live independently, and adult children to stay in the loop without being intrusive.BVHealthCareVertical

If something seems amiss — Dad hasn’t gotten out of bed or opened the refrigerator all day, let’s say — you get notified via text or email.

Think sensors on jewelry, doors or toasters, voice activation gadgets, GPS location tracking on a tablet or smartphone, remote monitoring of health conditions, and even virtual companions to converse with through a screen.

Newest Gadgets and Apps for Seniors

By 2017, experts expect aging tech to be a $30 billion market. Here is a sampling of some of the cooler technology out there today, providing independence to our parents, and valuable peace of mind for us as caregivers:

Medication Management Devices

On average, someone age 65+ takes an average of five medicines a day. Medication systems help aging parents stay on track — and let family members know if they aren’t.

With Reminder Rosie, the adult child, user-parent or professional caregiver programs the talking clock to say whatever they want. It might be, “Dad, it’s time for your green and orange pill. Don’t forget to take them with a cracker! I love you!” It’s also handy for a middle-of-the-day, “Hi, Mom, just thinking about you!”

Micheline Stabile’s 87 year-old aunt is in independent living outside Pittsburgh. Until Stabile began leaving her reminder voice messages, she would often forget to go to the dining room for meals.

“If it wasn’t for this clock, my aunt would be in a nursing home.”

MedMinder is a digital pill dispenser. An adult child fills the medicine tray, then programs the schedule online, and can check whether Dad has complied. At pill time, the dispenser flashes – and a version that will unlock as well. Forget? The gadget beeps, and will be followed up by a prerecorded message in a family member’s voice; Still not taking them? They get a call and the child is notified.

CareZone is a free app you set that buzzes the phone when it’s time to take pills. You can share medication and other important information. The coolest feature: Take a photo of a pill bottle, upload it, and it gets transcribed and added to the medication list.

S.O.S. Safety Devices

Personal emergency response systems (PERS) are getting more sophisticated. Medic alert-like pendants and wristbands can be pressed during an emergency to alert professionals and/or family members. Some companies like GreatCall and MobileHelp have mobile PERS that work anywhere, not just in your house – and include fall detection. If the PERS senses a fall, it alerts a call center even if the user hasn’t pressed the button.

Sensors like BeClose, Evermind and Lively attach to objects your parent uses most: the bed, a toaster, the bathroom or front door or a favorite chair, for instance. You remotely determine what circumstances merit notification (if Mom hasn’t made her coffee by 10 a.m., for example).You can check their activity on your smartphone.

Rose McDermott, a university professor in Providence, Rhode Island, used BeClose to check on her mom 3,000 miles away.

“Because safety was a non-issue and I didn’t have to treat her like a two-year old, it changed our relationship.”

Lively is a multi-talented smart watch! It’s a PERS, a medication reminder, pedometer and clock. (Lively also offers separate sensors you can buy with the watch.) Pamela Wood Browne’s 88 year-old mother, who lives 15 minutes away near Greenville, South Carolina, uses a Lively watch and sensors.

“Short of living with her, it’s a glimpse into what and how she’s doing,” says Browne.

Manny Santayana, 59, shoots for a more direct approach: six cameras via Comcast’s Xfinity placed around his 85 year-old mother’s home in Pennsylvania. She lives alone and has Alzheimer’s. From his own home in Florida, or on the road, the salesman checks on her throughout the day.

“She doesn’t want to give up her house. This layered technology gives both of us freedom.”

From his iPhone, Santayana can make sure the help is punctual and his mom is safe. Twice, Santayana’s mother opened the front door and got locked out. An alert notified him; he could also see it on his screen.

Healthcare Coordination

Siblings or adult children may live far from each other. Care coordination devices and apps are one way to solve, “Who’s on first?” and keep everyone informed. Others on the care team, from a professional caregiver to physicians, can also get on the same web page for updates and information.

Making Care Easier is a website for offering help (asking for it), storing information, sharing resources, perusing joint calendars, tracking caregiving expenses, organizing and managing tasks, and purchasing products (i.e. grab bars and walkers). There are checklists to share with family members and caregivers.

Another care sharing tool is CaringBridge primarily used during a health crisis. Family and friends log on to get progress reports and sign up for assignments. The iPhone and iPad app synchronizes to a website.

Socializing

One way to keep loneliness at bay is to interact with others — even if it’s on a screen. Take grandCARE. With a large touch screen, residents at home or in long term care have video chats with family, get the news, play games, check the calendar, visit websites, send instant messages, and share photos. More features: grandCARE offers sensor monitoring, medication prompts and telehealth device recording (weight, pulse, glucose). Caregivers can connect to a website portal from any Internet-connected device.

Perhaps the most ingenious social engagement tool is GeriJoy. Often used by those with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s, it’s a touch screen tablet that “talks.” Tap the screen and the snoozing virtual dog or cat “gets up”; chatting back and forth begins. The trained staff operates and speaks through the screen remotely. He knows the person’s interests and might ask if they’re looking forward to a football game that day, or how they slept. Family can fill in faraway staff on something happening that day or have them reminisce about the person’s past.. While it isn’t a substitute for care, it can supplement it when you can’t be there.

Have any experience with aging in place technology? What have you used or wish there were a device for? Please share your story with us in the comments below.

By : Sally Abrahms for more tips visit www.aplaceformom.com