Technology has improved the lives of countless people in the last few years. The strides that science has been making in terms of connectivity have made things possible for elderly people to live independently. There is a device for just about every area of life that seniors would struggle with if they had to go without.
Unfortunately, there are many senior citizens that are not aware of what some of the possibilities are. They are in the dark when it comes to just how useful some of these devices can be for them to age in place. This is the time to research what some of the best devices are that can help them live on their own or at least with little assistance to maintain their independence. In this article, we will go over some of the essentials that will help.
1 – Medical alert system
This device is nothing new as it has been around for decades. The older generation was worn around the neck on a strap and had a button that needed to be pushed in case of a fall or emergency.
The latest generation is much more sophisticated and can help in so many ways. The best medical alert systems now have more advanced features that don’t even require a person to press a button. In fact, they have gotten so sophisticated that they can even detect when a person has fallen and will send an automatic alert to emergency services.
They are even voice activated so if a person is alert but not able to press the button they can still communicate with the emergency services in the area and have help sent. There is also the possibility to have a relative or neighbor be alerted at the same time. This helps so there is somebody connected to the senior citizen that will be updated on what’s happening right away.
2 – Health tracker
Health trackers are a really great device for anybody but seniors in particular can get a lot of use out of one. Since health is such a priority for them, the tracker can help them keep things in check. They are able to track a lot of different things such as sleeping habits, activity, and even heart issues.
For instance, if the heartbeat is tracked and there are some irregularities then they will be immediately apparent. If something doesn’t look right then tests can be done before it becomes a serious problem.
They also act like a virtual coach and can help seniors stay active. Exercise is important so the tracker will do a great job to send reminders to get up and get moving. Some exercise routines can even be planned by the tracker to make sure the right exercises are being done.
Lastly, since sleep is so important for seniors they do a great job of making sure that sleep patterns are maintained which is important for overall health.
3 – Smart toilets
Even toilets have gotten much smarter with the latest technology. There are smart toilets that include bidets so people that have a hard time moving around and can’t really reach themselves to clean up can use a jet of water. It doesn’t stop there, however. They can even use a blast of warm air to dry off so it is a totally hands free experience.
There are heated seats and even lighted seats so they are easy to see in the dark. Some can even be used remotely and have self wash and disinfecting features so they are no problem to keep clean unlike a regular toilet.
4 – Smart home
The entire home can be made smarter with a variety of devices. For starters, a senior can stay safe in their home thanks to some smart security systems. They will be alerted if there is any movement around their house and able to see what is happening in real time on their smartphone.
If there is somebody at the door they are able to see who it is right away and avoid opening for somebody who is up to no good. The cameras on the doorbell can pick up movement around the areas as well so they can see if there is suspicious activity. With smart locks, they can open the door for somebody without even having to get up and let them in.
Since seniors are often targets for thieves because they appear vulnerable, a smart security system is ideal.
