Post by Your Home Companion on May 17, 2015 13:52:12 GMT
Every once in a while we are lucky to have another business offer to write an article for our company. Here is one of those articles:
Elder Care and Technology
A growing trend in America is that multi-generational families are staying connected through technology. Instead of staying in the same household with an elderly loved one, technologies like smart phones and in-home camera systems are allowing both sides some breathing room.
The Boomer generation has a deep desire for independence. They are the first generation that grew up with affordable cars and plenty of open road to travel. To meet this need for independence, many technologies have been created or adapted to help them keep their lifestyles of autonomy, empowerment, and control for as long as possible despite the problems of aging.
Yet the needs of their children and grandchildren must also be addressed. We naturally worry about our elders and the state of their health. Current technologies, like telemedicine and GPS locators, are giving younger generations peace of mind while allowing Boomers the independence they crave.
This desire for independence and control also extends to their health data. Medical providers have had to adjust to new demands for information from the public about things like lab results and treatment options. It’s not just the Boomers asking for this, but the Millennials as well. This has led to a wealth of apps.
For instance:
My Health Care Wishes – Made by the American Bar Association to hold end-of-life and advance directive information.
www.americanbar.org/groups/law_aging/MyHealthCareWishesApp.html
Pillboxie – Visual tracking for helping seniors remember to take their medication.
itunes.apple.com/us/app/pillboxie/id417367089
My Medical by Hyrax Inc. – Keeps track of your medical history
itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-medical/id347860026
Families who are eager for health information are getting a lot from hospitals, long-term care facilities, and hospices. Patient portals that cater to the needs of elderly users and their families can be a godsend when trying to figure out what end of life instructions are, where important documents such as wills are kept as well as passwords to provide surviving family members a way to carry on if an elder has become too ill or when they pass away.
Smart devices have made it possible to give patients, doctors, and family vital sign information that can be monitored at all times. From blood pressure to blood glucose, these tools can help prevent unnecessary trips to the hospital as well as warn people when there’s a serious emergency or worrying trend over time. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and the FDA have placed their focus on making sure that device and software applications meet a certain set of both safety and healthcare
requirements.
Everyone wants to feel as if they are participating in their own healthcare choices. Having applications that can remind patients to take specific medications at a specific time, or to allow patients and both their physicians
and families to interact on a real time basis can reassure patients and families.
Through behavior, expression and observation via video conferencing, a diagnosis can be performed without visiting a doctor in person. For an example of this technology, take a look at AMD’s Portable Teleclinic: This
saves costs and can be especially useful for patients that live in remote and under-served communities such as ethnic communities where language or culture can prove to be a barrier.
The technological landscape for our elders rapidly changes, as new devices and apps are being developed. Many of the apps that are being developed are designed to keep our elders safely at home with the technology coming along for the ride. Are you ready for the breakthroughs?
Article provided by the MedicalCareAlert team
Elder Care and Technology
A growing trend in America is that multi-generational families are staying connected through technology. Instead of staying in the same household with an elderly loved one, technologies like smart phones and in-home camera systems are allowing both sides some breathing room.
The Boomer generation has a deep desire for independence. They are the first generation that grew up with affordable cars and plenty of open road to travel. To meet this need for independence, many technologies have been created or adapted to help them keep their lifestyles of autonomy, empowerment, and control for as long as possible despite the problems of aging.
Yet the needs of their children and grandchildren must also be addressed. We naturally worry about our elders and the state of their health. Current technologies, like telemedicine and GPS locators, are giving younger generations peace of mind while allowing Boomers the independence they crave.
This desire for independence and control also extends to their health data. Medical providers have had to adjust to new demands for information from the public about things like lab results and treatment options. It’s not just the Boomers asking for this, but the Millennials as well. This has led to a wealth of apps.
For instance:
My Health Care Wishes – Made by the American Bar Association to hold end-of-life and advance directive information.
www.americanbar.org/groups/law_aging/MyHealthCareWishesApp.html
Pillboxie – Visual tracking for helping seniors remember to take their medication.
itunes.apple.com/us/app/pillboxie/id417367089
My Medical by Hyrax Inc. – Keeps track of your medical history
itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-medical/id347860026
Families who are eager for health information are getting a lot from hospitals, long-term care facilities, and hospices. Patient portals that cater to the needs of elderly users and their families can be a godsend when trying to figure out what end of life instructions are, where important documents such as wills are kept as well as passwords to provide surviving family members a way to carry on if an elder has become too ill or when they pass away.
Smart devices have made it possible to give patients, doctors, and family vital sign information that can be monitored at all times. From blood pressure to blood glucose, these tools can help prevent unnecessary trips to the hospital as well as warn people when there’s a serious emergency or worrying trend over time. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and the FDA have placed their focus on making sure that device and software applications meet a certain set of both safety and healthcare
requirements.
Everyone wants to feel as if they are participating in their own healthcare choices. Having applications that can remind patients to take specific medications at a specific time, or to allow patients and both their physicians
and families to interact on a real time basis can reassure patients and families.
Through behavior, expression and observation via video conferencing, a diagnosis can be performed without visiting a doctor in person. For an example of this technology, take a look at AMD’s Portable Teleclinic: This
saves costs and can be especially useful for patients that live in remote and under-served communities such as ethnic communities where language or culture can prove to be a barrier.
The technological landscape for our elders rapidly changes, as new devices and apps are being developed. Many of the apps that are being developed are designed to keep our elders safely at home with the technology coming along for the ride. Are you ready for the breakthroughs?
Article provided by the MedicalCareAlert team