Using Technology to Your Benefit in Home Care
Some people embrace technology and can’t wait to get the latest and greatest device the moment it hits the market, while others avoid it at all costs and hold onto their flip phones and VCR’s with a death grip you can’t release. Either way, technology isn’t going away and is becoming harder and harder to ignore.
About 10,000 boomers a day are turning 65, and close to half of women ages 75 and older live alone. If you are reading this, you probably have a senior parent receiving home care or are considering it in the near future.
If you can be patient and spend a little time getting to know these products, you can see how technology can work for you and the senior parent in your life to make daily tasks easier on everyone.
Here are some of the products geared to helping older adults maintain their independence.
Tablets:
Tablets can be a great tool for seniors that have mobility issues, as wherever they are, the tablet can go too.
Memory games downloaded from free apps can help with brain function and dexterity issues.
Many seniors also like making video phone calls via apps like Skype and FaceTime, which can help bridge the gap for family members that live long distances away.
Tablets can be a great gift for a senior in home care. They are usually pretty easy to use right out of the box, are lightweight, and offer font enlargements. They typically take less time to learn how to use than a laptop, but some seniors may still feel hesitant about using a tablet.
Some may consider getting a cell phone, but often these screens are a bit too small to use for long periods of time. Purchasing a sturdy case will help with any worries of them dropping or shattering an expensive tablet, and still enable them to use the touch-technology on the touch screen.
Smart Devices:
Amazon’s Echo or Google’s Home, are versatile smart devices used to employ technology to help you with everyday tasks such as timers, keeping lists, playing music, checking the weather, and more.
We have heard that some adult children of seniors recruit these type of devices to help their senior parents record their list of needed grocery items, as well as using timers to remind them to take their medications. Even just the music function is a great way to create a calming atmosphere while your parent is in-home care.
Cameras:
Installing cameras inside or around your parent’s home can also offer peace of mind as these can be linked with your cell phone so you can see the images wherever you go. If you don’t have a home care aid with your parent, being able to see who comes to the door, or if your senior is leaving can be helpful. They make devices that are easily installed using Bluetooth, so no hard wiring is necessary making these cameras able to be up and running the day of purchase.
Watches:
There are lots of brands of smartwatches and armbands to choose from these days, which offer many different options for health and senior wellness. Watches are able to take your blood pressure and your heart rate, track daily steps, as well as reminding seniors to take medications.
If you can do a little research to find the products or brands that will work best for your family, you may find that technology can help you to care for your aging parent.
If you or someone you know needs Senior Care in Robertsdale, AL, please contact the friendly caregivers at Hughes Home Care. We provide quality and affordable care for your elderly loved ones in our community. Call Us Today 251-517-9901. Serving Mobile & Baldwin County.
Source:
Kiplinger.com
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