Technology |

Dementia is not only challenging for the person experiencing it, but it is also stressful and unsettling for loved ones. However, as modern technology evolves, there are more options when it comes to caring for elders at home.

Technology cannot replace in-person care, however, it can be a tool to help caregivers feel more secure. Here are the top 5 technological innovations to consider if you have a loved one living at home with dementia.

1. GPS Location and Tracking Devices

Sadly, seniors with dementia have been known to wander and get lost, placing themselves in danger. GPS tracking devices are an important technology for caregivers to consider. The tracking device will send an alert when the elder has left a certain area and is capable of locating the person and notifying emergency personnel if necessary.

2. In-Home Cameras

In-home cameras allow elders to be monitored at all times. Some allow you to talk to your loved one, and others will alert you when there is movement in the room. In addition to checking in on your loved one, you will also be able to make sure that there are no intruders and that he or she has locked the doors, turned off the oven, and any other minor task that could put him or her in danger. Consider installing these cameras in multiple rooms of your loved one’s home and be sure to get the entire room in the range of view.

3. Communication Aids

As modern technology evolves, the way that humans communicate has also evolved. For some family members that do not live close to their loved ones, technology will help them stay connected. Family members should ask their loved one’s caregiver to assist with connecting via Facetime, Skype, or Zoom for a video-chat visit.

4. Motion Sensor Lights

Motion sensor lights have the ability to save lives as elders, and especially those with dementia, are subject to falls at night. Seniors often trip and fall in the dark and the injuries that they suffer from these falls can be life-threatening and altering. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Motion lights are a technological solution to this issue.

Motion lights will detect movement in a room and can make getting around easier. Instead of risking a fall walking to a light switch, the lights will turn on as soon as the elder stands up. This technological innovation will help to support a safer environment for older adults.

5. VitalTech

This cloud-based platform is an outstanding innovation worth considering. Launched in 2018, this technology comes in the form of a band worn by the elder. In addition to medication reminders, the VitalBand can also track:

Vital signs; heart and respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, etc.
Falls
Sleep quality
Physical activity

In case of injury, or when vital signs are questionable, the band will contact emergency services, allowing for 24/7 safety. Without delay, information can be tracked and reported to medical providers.

Technology Advantage

It may be helpful to implement technology options to assist with caring for a loved one living with dementia and offer you more peace of mind.

About the Author

AGE-u-cate welcomes Kelsey Simpson as a guest contributor.

Kelsey Simpson enjoys writing about things that can help others. She currently works and writes for Comfort Keepers, in-home senior care. She lives in South Jersey and is the proud companion to two German Shepherds and spends her free time volunteering in dog shelters.

Woman in assisted living on her computer.

Technology can boost quality of life for people in assisted living. As baby boomers age technology will take a much bigger stage, as suggested in some consumer trends.

A Few Real Life Examples

I once volunteered at Rowe Sanctuary, a nature center along the Platte River in Nebraska where thousands of Sand Hill Cranes gather on their way to points north. People of all ages from around the world visit the sanctuary to witness this spectacle of nature. I operated the Crane Cam, a remote camera placed on the river. The camera sent images to the National Geographic website. While operated the camera, a couple approached, curious about what the process. After I explained how it all worked, the woman told me about her mother who was in a nursing home in another state. Evidently her mother had been to the sanctuary several times in the past. She had been an avid bird watcher for many years. But since in long term care, she no longer participated in bird watching. The daughter became so excited because she had recently set up a personal computer in her mother’s room at the facility. It was possible for her mother to peek in on the Cranes via the internet and reconnect with her love of bird watching.

A gentleman in memory care used a PC to write poetry and letters to his family. In his career he’d been a successful business man, therefore the desk and computer in his room helped him retain an important part of his identity.

One young man with cerebral palsy resides in assisted living. He plays keyboard and records music on his PC. Sounds like a typical twenty year old, doesn’t it? His keyboard was modified to compensate for poor coordination, so he managed independently. He proudly played his musical creations for guests.

We surely can expect more people in community care with their own computers. It might serve as one way to lessen the feelings of isolation and boredom that plague so many who must reside in assisted living.

What are your thoughts about the link between technology and quality of life?

Tag Archives: Technology

Five Technology Innovations for Elders Living With Dementia