Getting old is like learning a new profession that is not of one’s choosing. Your elderly loved one may have the determination and vitality to live a rich and fulfilling life. However, it is up to you to look out for their mental and physical health. Some elderly individuals are more reasonable than others when it comes to this kind of thing. If you can find a way to make their homes safer and easier to get around in without them having to give up anything, you may succeed in your goal.
The technology now exists to make the lives of seniors much easier than it once was. If your loved one is reasonably healthy, but just needs a little help carrying out their daily routine, it may be better for you to transform their house into a smart home rather than hiring a nurse or assistant—which your loved one may resent.
Here are some of the devices you can have installed:
1. Smart medical and fall alert devices
As people age, their balance, reflexes, and coordination become more of a problem. If your loved one falls in their home, they may be too injured to reach a phone. Fortunately, there is a range of devices and senior monitoring systems that can be used to safeguard against this possibility. If there are any sudden shocks or irregularities, a signal will be automatically sent to a local ambulance and rescue department. You can also be alerted if the worst happens.
2. Smart pill dispenser
Your elderly loved one may have to take a variety of pills each day, and they may have a hard time keeping track of which pills they need to take and in one amount. A smart pill dispenser tracks when they took their pills and sends reminders. It also gives you the ability to monitor your loved one, so that you can make your own call to remind them and get prescriptions refilled if necessary.
3. Connected toothbrush
Oral hygiene is all important. This highly advanced device uses smart sensors to send brushing data to Bluetooth wireless technology in real time. It allows you and your elderly loved one to monitor how good their oral hygiene is.
4. Virtual assistant
You may also want to consider buying a virtual assistant device capable of interacting with smart home technology. Amazon’s Alexa is probably the most popular item in this category. It is a voice-activated assistant that will allow your elderly loved one to do everything from set alarms to make phone calls.
This can be a very useful device for someone who lives alone. Rather than having to feel around the dark for a light switch they can activate all the lights in the house with a single command. Your loved one will also be able to stream audiobooks, listen to music, turn on the television, and do a host of other things with this wonderful device.
Virtual assistants can also help seniors who suffer from dementia and Alzheimer’s reclaim a certain amount of independence. The devices can remind them to take their medication and give them the correct answers to repeated questions. These are the sorts of things that can help ease the burden of memory loss and confusion that are part of that dreaded disease.
If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your elderly loved one, you should look into the possibility of leveraging technology to help them live a safer and less difficult life.