At a briefing in Feb. 2008, experts on technology for the aging stated that new technologies will facilitate independence and allow older Americans to remain in their own homes.
Dr. Mike Magee stated, "The current surge of private technology investment in home health will outfit homes with pervasive motion/location sensors, vital signs monitoring, blood and imaging diagnostics, intelligent analytic software, personalized prompter coaching interfaces, and Internet data transfer to care networks. He added, that this “virtual care team and its resources (will eliminate) the need for many office visits and hospitalizations."
Honor Hacker, a resident at Lakeview Commons in Maplewood, Minnesota, brought the issue to life when she discussed how technology, including passive sensors in her apartment and brain fitness games, helped her “stay connected, proactively manage my health and engage in life.”
CAST, a program of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, offered demonstrations of recent technology, including: embedded sensors in chairs that measure vital signs and a “smart cane” that detects changes in a person’s step, thereby signaling instability and preventing falls. And it doesn’t stop there. Online gaming is utilized to slow memory loss and a “Medication Advisor” reminds seniors when it’s time to take medication.
These new services not only improve the quality of life for seniors, they’re very effective when it comes to reducing healthcare costs and diminishing dependence on an already burdened healthcare system. The result? A win-win situation.
June 3, 2008 DSB said:
ah what about the boomers that made the tech possible?
