Advancements in technology open convenient and result-driven ways to enable enhanced care delivery for the elderly. CIOs seeking new ways to ensure improved care can invest in these technologies.
FREMONT, CA: The essentiality of technology in our daily lives is undeniable. Every industry can benefit from using technological developments, and that includes senior care as well. Be it a physician seeking new ways to care for patients or a CIO looking for innovations, learning about the latest and greatest technological advances in elder care empowers them to do their job more effectively. Of course, medical tech's main goal is to produce better outcomes and increase efficiencies. Know these straightforward and not-so-obvious tech solutions that are improving elder care.
• Internet of Medical Things
The Internet of Things (IoT) is no new concept, and when applied to the medical field, it becomes the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). The more caregivers in the medical world are connected to each other, the more they can learn from one another. With this, the entire medical ecosystem including, caregivers, patients, and providers, are experiencing a new level of engagement that results from remotely monitoring patients and remotely maintaining connected equipment, thereby providing visibility and insights about treatment, diet, vitals, and many more. Using this type of information sharing can help seniors with their medication schedules, vital signs, and implants to assist with their health.
• Global Positioning System (GPS) Service
Global Positioning System (GPS) has been around from the past few decades. But in the past few years, two features have significantly added value to its service, and they are location accuracy and the detailing ability that the system of satellites is able to convey. GPS can help locate a senior with memory issues stemming from dementia o Alzheimer’s and have a habit of wandering, which could mean getting disoriented or lost. Thus, the need to locate seniors is tremendous, and having an updated GPS service and technology can come to help. There are GPS trackers available in the market, which can be placed in elders’ routing clothing accessories.
• Emergency Responsive Services (ERSs)
Lack of mobility, sight, hearing, or any other illness can put elders in severe danger when they are alone at home. ERS, advanced with the help of GPS, can locate seniors and get someone out as quickly as possible to help. The ERS also has unique gadgets to help seniors in the action of falling or any other kind of injuries. Gadgets like safety belt deploys airbags around the hips when it notices an elder falling. The belt then transmits a signal to a device that gets emergency responders to their location as soon as possible.
• Mobile Apps
Mobile applications are one of the most significant advancements in technology that can help both seniors and caregivers in several ways. With any smartphone that seniors have, caregivers can monitor things like patients' medication, heart rate, location, and many other vitals and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. From keeping track of appointments to assisting in emergency situations, apps can also tackle all areas of caregiving for seniors. Through the app caregivers can also create to-do lists to keep track of appointments and medication times. In their simplest forms, apps help keep seniors engaged with various in-app exercises, music, stories and many more.
• Virtual/ Robot Assistants
There are devices available that allow caregivers to provide information to the elderly on their duties for the day, including taking prescribed medicines or exercising the best way they can. Mobile apps can be integrated with automated voices, the applications that allow seniors to feel as if someone is there to help them. This can provide a sense of community, which is imperative to elders as they age, especially if there is no one to take care of them. There are also robotic assistants that elders can have roaming their homes to remind and alert them to take medications, listen to their favorite music, connect with family, and even more.
CIOs should be sure to be informed about the latest and greatest advancements in medical care. With several technologies available on the market today, finding and selecting the best option is not always easy for CIOs. The best approach is to analyze the existing problems and then seek out technology that remediates them. It is sure that the above technologies facilitate better care and contribute to business goals. Ultimately, tech is the key to delivering exceptional work.
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