While they may not always make headlines, new developments in assistive technology are helping older adults stay active and social. According to the World Health Organization, the primary purpose of assistive products is “to maintain or improve an individual’s [independence].” In this article, we’ll review some of the different technological developments—simple and more complex—that are helping older adults live connected and fulfilling lives.
Smart Home Technology
Smart home technology delivers a number of benefits for seniors with mobility issues and people with disabilities. Voice assisted devices that control lighting or appliances in the home are increasingly common. At the most basic level these devices resemble a small portable speaker with a built-in microphone.
Once you have voice assisted devices set up in your home, you can use voice commands to control other technology and devices that are connected to the same wireless network. For example, you can use voice commands to turn lights on and off. These items do take a little more effort to set up, but they offer a special level of convenience.
Modern Mobility Assistance
Mobility aids, such as walkers and canes, have existed relatively unchanged for many years. However, in recent years, there have been new developments in the mobility aid space.
For example, Camino revealed what it calls “the world’s first smart walker,” an electric-powered device that sports electronic assisted wheels and brakes, for ease navigating hills. There’s also a narrow mode for navigating tight spaces and it collapses down smaller for easy storage.
The WeWALK smart cane is another innovative piece of technology specifically designed for the visually impaired community to experience better mobility. This smart cane features obstacle detection, a built-in touchpad, and blind-friendly navigation. Some training may be required.
There is also a growing market of smart walkers or canes for the more general public that feature GPS and electronic assisted technology to make getting around easier than ever before. Certain smart canes also feature emergency call technology, GPS activity tracking, and LED flashlights.
At-Home Health Monitoring
The National Institute of Health defines home health monitoring devices as “consumer-grade devices that help monitor and track the health of individuals outside of clinics.” These devices are usually low-cost and designed to be operated by older adults or their caretakers with minimal training. Common examples of home health monitoring devices include:
- Automatic blood pressure monitors
- Blood glucose monitors
- Pulse oximeters
- Electrocardiographs
- Digital thermometers
As technology advances, these devices become more accurate in their measurements of key wellness indicators, which empowers the user with up-to-date health reporting. Smartwatches are another type of health monitoring technology designed for less intensive use cases.
Health monitoring technology may also include medication management devices, such as smart pill dispensers and medication reminder apps, to help individuals take their prescription meds.
Virtual Communication Tools
The COVID-19 pandemic shaped people’s lives in many different ways. One area that was affected in particular was the way people socialize and work online. Video chat apps, such as Zoom, Skype, and Google Meet, provide a way for older adults to interact with friends and loved ones and all of these applications became more widely adopted during the pandemic.
A growing segment of the virtual communication market includes tablets and phones with larger screens and simple interfaces for older adults or people with disabilities. There are also certain smart devices designed specifically for video chat and telehealth related purposes. These may be worth looking into if you aren’t as familiar with navigating a standard tablet or smartphone.
More recently, studies have shown that virtual reality may be able to increase feelings of connectedness among older adults, when used as a tool for engaging in experiences. Rendever is an example of a developer creating “immersive technology for a more connected life.” Meanwhile, Mynd Immersive is exploring “next generation engagement and therapy.”
Explore Connected Living at Harbour’s Edge
Harbour’s Edge is an active senior living community full of individuals with a passion for life-long learning and self development. Many of our residents also are interested in technology, so don’t be surprised if you see some assisted living technology in action within the community. Our compassionate team members are also available to help you learn new technology.
Contact us to learn more about life at Harbour’s Edge.
