The market for senior care is growing rapidly. This comes as more members of the baby boomer generation enter retirement, partly due to the current health crisis. This will encourage retirement and assisted living communities to adopt the right amenities that cater to the increasing senior population.
The market for senior care has provided a number of solutions for delivering quality services and securing livable conditions for today’s retirees. Presently, there are tools that support independent senior living as well as give aid to family caregivers, physicians, and nurses. Here are five of the most important tools and how they can change the landscape of senior care:
Wearable health monitors
Ever since they hit the market, wearable devices have changed the way we approach healthcare. Smartwatches that come with ECG monitors allow doctors to check a patient’s vital signs from afar. For seniors who choose to live independently, these devices can help healthcare providers identify the early signs of disease. This enables the delivery of immediate care, preventing the onset of complications.
Medical alert systems
In addition to smartwatches, seniors and their healthcare providers can also make use of remote alert systems. These take the form of devices that seniors can activate in case of an emergency. Smartwatches and smartphones can also come with apps that will help notify doctors and nurses in real-time. It’s only a matter of picking the best medical alert systems that feature mobile locating technologies such as GPS, two-way voice communication, and fall detection.
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Patients who are suffering from a short or long-term injury, or who have been diagnosed with a medical condition, might face difficulty when performing simple and complex tasks within the home. Thankfully, there are various technologies and assistive equipment that can support mobility and help them hold onto their independence.
There are numerous categories for assistive technology, which can enhance a person’s quality of life. Learn how patients can stay independent with the different forms of assistive technologies.
Adaptive Equipment to Support Daily Living
Adaptive equipment makes it possible for people to perform everyday tasks so that they can sustain a great quality of life. Many hospitals and facilities will also require patients to have access to these items before they will discharge them.
For example, they will need adaptive equipment to support dressing, such as dressing sticks, elastic shoelaces, sock aids, leg straps, and long-handled shoe horns. They might also need adaptive equipment for bathing, such as a supportive sliding shower chair, transfer board, mechanical lift and grab bars. Of course, there are also various technologies available for basic mobility, such as stair lifts, power wheelchairs, lift chairs and more.
Adaptive Equipment for Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLS)
IADLs can transform a person’s quality of life when living with an injury or disability, as they can simplify communications and improve safety. For example, they refer to hearing aids, screen readers, amplified telephone equipment, speech generating devices, assistive listening devices and communication boards. They can also maintain their safety with medical alert systems, such as fall detection devices and wearable call buttons.
Durable Medical Equipment for Everyday Health and Safety
Durable medical equipment can effectively support a patient within their home so that they can enjoy a greater quality of life. These are items that are most likely covered by a patient’s insurance, as they will be necessary for their everyday health and safety. Examples of the assistive technologies include hospital beds, power mobility devices, patient lifts, walkers and commode chairs.
How to Acquire Assistive Technologies
While a doctor might order a piece of equipment, it is generally up to the patient to purchase the item. In some cases, a hospital or medical facility might be happy to loan an item to a patient, yet they might need to browse the market for the best option for their needs and budget.
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