Senior Adult.
Top Ways Home Technology is Advancing Caregiving
By Kaitlin Krull
Today I have another guest post coming your way. Please welcome Kaitlin Krull to The Diary of an Alzheimerscaregiver.com! Kaitlin Krull is a writer and mom of two girls living the expat life in the UK. She enjoys writing for Modernize.com with the goal of empowering homeowners with the expert guidance and educational tools they need to take on home projects with confidence.
Caring for a parent, relative, or friend with a debilitating physical and/or mental condition such as Alzheimer’s is a complex and often difficult process. An estimated 40% of us are currently offering care for children and adults with disabilities from home with varying degrees of external support. Thankfully, the development of home technology has made many aspects of caregiving easier and more straightforward. Here are just a few of the ways that accessible home technology is changing the way we care for our loved ones.
WiFi/Internet connectivity
Widespread access to the Internet has changed the way we live in countless ways. For caregivers, WiFi is essential for communication, information, and support. Patients and caregivers alike can now stay connected with family and friends around the world, keeping in touch and sending updates on their care. Caregivers can also utilize the Internet to access tailored information and support from blogs, websites, online forums, and online caregiver communities. Caregiving.com recommends adult caregiving websites such as caring.com, CarePlanners, the National Alzheimer’s Association, and MedHelp, but there are also many other places to access the support and information you may need as a caregiver.
IoT products
Perhaps one of the greatest advances in home technology in recent years has been the development of the Internet of Things, or smart devices and gadgets that connect wirelessly to the Internet, learn your home’s preferences, and function largely of their own accord. Smart thermostats, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, and security systems that run on this technology are linked to smartphone and tablet apps that you can monitor and adjust on the go. At Modernize, we think that this kind of technology is particularly invaluable for caregivers, who can devote more time to caring for their loved ones because they know that their smart devices have some basic household needs covered. Other remote monitoring apps and products such as geo-tracking and GPS devices allow patients living with Alzheimer’s and other limiting conditions live a more independent life while putting caregivers’ minds at ease.
Adaptive technology
Assistive technologies in the home are essential to many people living with disabilities, increasing mobility and simplifying caregiving in a variety of situations. Durable medical equipment such as tub assists, wheelchairs, stair lifts, walkers, ramps, and canes are low-tech but high function and make day-to-day care much more straightforward. High-tech assistive technology, including personal emergency response systems, mobility scooters, and communication devices offer even more convenience to both caregivers and patients in many aspects of home life.
This is a cornucopia of helpful information for any caregiver. I love it when technology can aid the helping community.
You and me both! Thank you for the support.
Using technology to do the best is great!
It really is, thank you for the support.
I’m always on the lookout for updated medical devices and equipment that makes my daughter who does life from her wheelchair easier and more efficient. Great resources here.
The second best thing to finding prevention and a cure would be to make care giving easier. So happy to see that’s happening,
Very true, these are my two greatest wishes.
As we progress in society, yes, we need to take advantage of those things that can help us in caregiving roles. The internet helped me help my husband when he was diagnosed with a chronic illness. In retrospect, my mother had to stand by and watch my father die from an MI because the docs had no idea how to help him and of course there was no info available to her.
I couldn’t imagine living in a time without the internet. It really has made so much information easy to find.
Wow, this is truly great information. So many advances that can help us care for our loved ones.
Hopefully so many more advances to come as well, thank you for the support.
SO great about all the technologies that are out there these days helping people with Alzheimer’s…
I came late to the technological world, but now I couldn’t live without it. When I was caring for my mother who had Alzheimer’s, the best book I found on the subject was The 36-Hour Day. It was invaluable and helped me understand what was happening with my mom. Thanks for your post.
I have that book too Toni and it’s been so helpful. It was a gift from the Alzheimer’s Assoc. I also came late, but like you I can’t get enough of it.
Such great information here which we don’t really think about. We live downstairs from my Parents-in-Law who are both 90 this year. They have had medical problems however are still independant to a certain extent. It is difficult to decide what to do for their best care as they don’t want to leave their home. Thanks for some very helpful advice. Sue from Sizzling Towards Sixty.
Your welcome Sue and thank you for your kind words. It’s something that you should start talking about now. The more information you have the better care you will be able to provide when they can no longer do it for themselves.
Thank goodness for ways to connect with others, get information and technological help these days. So important for many in our generation who are caring for loved ones.
It is Cathy. It has saved my sanity. I’m very isolated and this is often my only contact with the outside world.
Great advice. My 91 year old mom used to play Scrabble on FB with me. I have to get her back into the game!
It’s very good for the mind stimulations. You should also try Ruth Curran’s site she has some great mind games.
I always get stoked when I see the words technology and seniors in the same sentence. As a corporate training director, I used to pay special attention to those in my class that felt intimidated by technology because of their age. I am so thrilled to see it’s really being utilized now more than ever. Awesome post. Love the awareness of it all!
Thank you Carolann. It is so important to keep our loved ones minds engaged for as long as possible.
When it comes to caregiving any extra help is a bonus – I love that there is so much more available now than ever before and I’ll be using as much of it as possible if I end up caring for my mum or my in-laws down the track.
It’s great to have all of the information before your need it Leanne. Most caregivers are only put into action after an emergency has already occurred. Knowing the signs and preventive care is their only defense.
I love when technology is used for good! And I’m all for anything that helps caregivers!
So true Lois! Thank you for your comments.
Its great to find these helpful resources for caregiving. Thanks for sharing them.
Thank you Estelle. I love spreading awareness about Alzheimer’s or seniors and caregivers.
I love your post, this is very informative and you’ve shared very important resources too! I like technology and the benefits I get from it.
THank you Nicole. I appreciate your comment.
My grandmother had alzheimers/dementia. Caring for individuals with this disease is so tough.
I had no idea so much was available. Will share
I agree, technology has become a great part in making caregiving an easier & more straightforward one for sure. Caregiving is such a hectic & sensitive job to do & I love that we have technologies that could make things a bit easier.
Hello there, Rena! I already finished reading your article and it’s so precise and useful information for me, nowadays, people has much more techie by the new era. Moreover, Thank you for the great post.
Keep posting.
Most of the blog I search mobility aided tools no one can fulfill my expectation without you. So I highly appreciate your work. Really a proudly post! What is the thinking level you are? I agree with your opinion and your list so that the disabled person can get their right in the out site and houses. Your article inspired me more to build my house wheelchair friendly for my grandmother who is now 78 years old. You discuss the mobility assist tools step by step, As wheelchair users, this is a great job for me. Please, you increase the list by adding price, installation, user guideline.
Thanks for sharing this post with us.We discover that a good GPS enabled cellphone is a more sensible choice right now together with a conventional rock strong dependable and reasonably priced medical alarm system.