Senior care has long been synonymous with one-on-one interactions, focused on a friendly and personal approach. However, technology in senior care has been quickly advancing to improve outcomes and increase patient satisfaction. Technology-driven solutions now offer a wide range of high-quality services that make it easier for doctors and medical professionals to provide more personalized treatment plans for elderly individuals under their care. In addition, healthcare technologies are becoming more available as advancements in communication platforms allow for greater connectivity among providers, patients, and family members. We will explore some of the most transformative trends driving innovation in modern senior healthcare, from artificial intelligence to cloud computing technologies. By examining these innovative advances in detail, we can uncover how technology revolutionizes a critical social responsibility: providing appropriate senior care with dignified respect.
As the elderly population continues to grow, the need for advancements in senior care is becoming more crucial than ever. Fortunately, technology is advancing at an astonishing rate, bringing innovations to the senior care industry. With the rise of smart home devices, virtual assistants, and wearable technology, seniors can live independently in their homes for extended periods, allowing them to “age in place” while still receiving necessary care. Additionally, telehealth and telemedicine have become increasingly popular, allowing seniors to receive medical attention without leaving the comfort of their homes. These advancements have improved the quality of life for seniors and made caregiving more efficient and convenient for family members and caregivers. As technology evolves, we can only expect further improvements in the senior care industry. Let’s look at some state-of-the-art technologies that can significantly impact senior care residents' and staff’s quality of life.
Independence is an essential part of life, and the need for it does not leave just because someone has entered senior care.
Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS)
Independence is an essential part of life, and the need for it does not leave just because someone has entered senior care. Personal Emergency Response Systems, or PERS, are portable, lightweight devices that can aid in residents' independence. But did the name immediately bring an image of a sizeable black battery pack with a giant red button to mind? Well, these little transmitters have adapted and responded to the times. Gone are clunky, oversized designs – they’ve been streamlined to be worn around the neck, on your wrist, or even on a belt. In addition, many devices now offer fall detection. With 20-30% of seniors reporting more than one fall a year, fall detection allows senior patients the independence to roam their senior care facility while ensuring caregivers are notified of falls.
Virtual technologies
Staying connected to family members while in senior care can be a struggle, and the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic has not made connection any easier. Virtual interactions are helping close the gap in the lack of in-person interaction. Video calls between families, friends, and caregivers became the new norm, allowing residents to experience family time and help improve their mental and physical health. Care homes promote social interaction and exploration amongst residents with virtual field trips, giving residents a window into the outside world. Virtual interaction connects residents to people, events, and places they may have previously felt isolated.
Connected technologies
While staying connected and retaining your independence has already seen technology come leaps and bounds ahead of even a few years ago, what has been advancing for caregivers? First, being effective in daily tasks can cut down on your workload. Easing work pressure and stress on care providers means increasing efficiency4. And this is being achieved through facilitating software and hardware integration.
One promising development area is vital monitoring automation, like Jubo’s VitalLink, which uses Bluetooth devices and app-based technologies to ensure healthcare professionals can get accurate results and ensure data quality and compliance.
Another fascinating development is automated visitation management systems like Jubo’s FamilyLine, which improves workflows for senior care teams by connecting residents with their loved ones through automated visitation scheduling of in-person and virtual visits.
These futuristic technologies, once the stuff of science fiction, are already changing senior care for the better, offering new ways to help seniors stay healthy, happy, and independent in their later years.
In conclusion, senior care has traditionally been seen as a one-on-one, personalized approach, but technology is now used in many positive ways to aid seniors further. From monitoring vital signs and providing medication reminders to virtual visitation, these technologies can improve health outcomes for people as they age. Of course, there are still areas where improvements need to be made, such as cost-effectiveness and accessibility – but it’s clear that innovative new technologies will continue to be developed quickly, increasing the quality of senior care even further. Senior care providers have the unique opportunity to embrace these advances and make them part of their care plans, all while keeping close relationships with their clients and providing individualized attention. With more thoughtfully designed solutions and careful implementation, technology can play an important role in providing high-quality senior care.