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Emergency response systems that work anywhere? Online status updates from the staff at your parent's nursing home? A website customized to make caregiving easier? According to attendants at the second annual Silvers Summit technology show these and other advancements could represent the future of aging.
Major tech companies are recognizing the opportunities for growth in senior healthcare, a traditionally low tech industry. But how practical are these inventions? What is the probability that they will be implemented in the near future?
Read a discussion about this topic here. For more information about the Silvers Summit at the Consumer Electronics Show, click here.
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| 1/11/2010 11:50:25 AM |
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Medication errors can be deadly, so developing a plan to help you avoid them is a must. The best way to prevent a medication error is to know your medications and when and how to take. Creating a personalized medication record will help you keep track of when to take your medication so that you do not make mistakes or miss doses. If you are unable to create a medication record yourself, ask your caregiver, doctor or pharmacist to help. Remember, you are the boss when it comes to your medication and taking a proactive stance will help ensure your medication safety.
The Vial of Life program consists of a vial (empty pill bottle, plastic bag or other container), labeled with a Vial of Life sticker, inside which is placed a medical form which has been filled out stating the health status of the individual and current medications being taken. The vial is placed in the refrigerator, usually recommended to be on the top shelf of the door, because it has been shown that the refrigerator's contents are preserved in the event of a fire. Stickers are placed in the front window of the home so that responding emergency personnel will know to look for the Vial.
For more information, visit the Vial of Life website. |
| 9/1/2009 12:37:05 PM |
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On June 12, 2009 all television signals switched from analog to digital, making many older TVs unusable. This transition particularly impacted the low income population, many of whom do not own digital televisions or rely on antenna reception. This group includes many seniors.
We all know seniors who depend on the television as a primary source of entertainment, a way to fill their day, watch movies from their youth and keep up on the latest reality TV show. Television can also serve as a vital link to the outside world for frail and homebound seniors. More importantly, television is a primary means of receiving emergency alerts and other important information about events and issues that may directly impact a senior.
Luckily, there are many low cost or free options to ensure that all televisions will continue to work now that the transition has taken place. To find out more about what to do to ensure continued reception of local stations, call the Federal Communication Commissin (FCC) at 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) or visit the digital transition website, http://www.dtv.gov/.
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| 6/17/2009 10:13:55 AM |
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Want to be an Earth Day Angel? Change just one lightbulb in your home or office and you will be off to a great start!
Did you know that exchanging just one standard bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) can:
- Save at least $30-$40 over the life of the bulb (about 8,000 hours)
- Increase safety by producing 70% less heat
- Use 2/3 less energy, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and helps protect our environment from the risks of global climate change.
Encourage the seniors in your life, family and friends to use energy efficient light bulbs. They can help save money and save the Earth at the same time! Together we can work to improve the health of our seniors and our planet.
Sources: www.energystar.gov, www.lightbulbsamerica.com
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| 4/23/2009 9:56:13 AM |
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What will retirement look like for the Baby Boomers?
This question is being asked more and more frequently as Baby Boomers get closer and closer to reaching the magic age of 65 in 2011. The Baby Boomer generation will be more educated about options after helping their parents navigate the long term care system. They know the pitfalls that their parents faced and have high expectations for standards of living, independence and care.
Some retirement communities are already preparing for the next generation of retirees. Here is just a sample of what one community anticipates needing in order to appease future residents:
"Private rooms. Internet access. A fitness center. Massage rooms. Kitchens in each dining area, so the coffee is hot and the toast crispy. Electronic medical records to eliminate the need for nursing stations. Windows that face the river, positioned so someone in a wheelchair can enjoy the view. And showers in each room to eliminate the indignity of being wrapped in a sheet and wheeled down the public hallway."
Sound intriguing? Read the rest of the article here.
Everyone in senior care needs to be asking, what comes next? How will we need to evolve and develop? What services will we need to add or change to suit the needs and standards of the Baby Boomers? Stay tuned...
For more information about how Visiting Angels can help members of every generation, please contact one of our three Bay Area offices:
Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano Counties: (925) 552-6500
Marin and San Francisco Counties: (415) 499-1200
San Joaquin Valley: (209) 952-3585
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| 3/23/2009 4:28:43 PM |
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Technology is no stranger to the senior care industry. Most people have heard of emergency alert systems that involve a button a senior can press when they fall to call for help. Additionally, many assisted living facilities and rehab centers have purchased Nintendo Wii gaming systems to provide low impact exercise and increase range of motion.
As technology becomes more advanced and the senior population grows, many companies are seizing the opportunity to create technological devices that can assist with some aspect of the aging process. Many of the products that are being developed target the aging in place market with the goal of providing tools to help seniors stay at home and avoid nursing home or assisted living placement.
A recent article from the New York Times discusses a few of these new aging in place technologies, including sensors that can detect if a senior falls and machines that can take a senior's vital signs from home and send the data directly to their doctor. You can access the article by following this link.
While these technologies are still new and require further testing to see if they can be implemented on a broad scale to help seniors age in place, they are a step in the right direction. In the meantime, homecare is still one of the best options to help a senior live safely while remaining at home.
For more information about how Visiting Angels can help you or your loved one age in place, please contact one of our Bay Area offices:
Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano Counties: (925) 552-6500
Marin and San Francisco Counties: (415) 499-1200
San Joaquin Valley: (209) 952-3585
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| 3/5/2009 3:36:56 PM |
