Maximizing Safety and Independence in Senior Care
The occurrence of an ever-changing elderly population and covid seems to have highlighted some challenges in our systems and opened our minds to acceptance of innovation. These days there are more people using in-home services for food delivery, communication, and virtual healthcare consultations. Thanks to technology, we have access to such things as telehealth, remote monitoring, and artificially intelligent medical devices. We are living in a virtual world where homebound persons can interact in vital circumstances and maintain quality of life and independence.With these updates in practice and the majority of older adults wanting to remain in their own homes, how can we focus on maximizing senior independence and home safety?
Here are a few actionable ways you can enhance your loved one’s safety and independence in a world powered by technology:
Provide non-intrusive support, not control
Remote monitoring devices provide peace of mind and remove the unknown to make data gathering more efficient, effective, and overall, more joyful. Senior patients now have the opportunity to collect data about their health at various points throughout the day and electronically transmit messages about their status based on preset cues. Family members and caregivers gain opportunities for reassurance and comfort by using sensors that can send alerts to both family members and medical providers.
Establish a trusted online support network
Online engagement platforms and support networks can establish relationships and decrease the sense of isolation. Engaging in a community of like-minded individuals or having access to feedback or professional support can reduce stress, depression, and anxiety.
Ease the caregiving burden through comprehensive team notification
AI has paved the way for SMS messaging and phone calls to occur directly and be personalized to ensure notification options can keep an entire caregiving team aware anytime and anywhere. This provides ease of access to data, the ability to deliver higher-quality care — and for healthcare providers — lower costs and higher efficiency.
Invest in voice activated technology or integrative features to enhance independence
Being able to see clearly helps seniors maintain balance and avoid obstacles. Updating lighting to be triggered in key locations is a quick and inexpensive way to reduce risks and promote independence in seniors. There are options for voice activated or sensor triggered lighting to ensure pathways are always lit.
Provide option for in-home consultations or telemedicine
The option for a hybrid model of in-office and telemedicine has recently entered play and opened for increased conversations surrounding physical and mental safety. Healthcare continues to expand the use of technology to allow those with mild symptoms or routine care follow-ups to receive services from the comfort of their own home. Before the pandemic, we relied solely on verbal cuing to demographics, now physicians and healthcare providers can see straight into home surroundings by means of virtual communication which also lays groundwork for decreased cost in transportation needs and increased engagement within the community via online support.
AI has uncovered a way for healthcare providers to use tools to determine next steps in treatment and now we are bringing this into the home for everyday caregivers like you and I to utilize and help balance safety and autonomy.
Do you have questions?
The pressure to find and implement AI technology can be overwhelming. By maximizing safety and independence within the home, you can achieve peace of mind. Learn more here.
Falls in the senior community are far too common, costly, and preventable. Senior care fall strategies shouldn’t be reactive - they should be proactive. Just imagine if you could monitor, track, and address patient needs BEFORE a fall happens. This type of fall prevention initiative is available with Source of Life Technologies - Mat of Life - your modern fall prevention solution.
You can learn more about Mat of Life here.
