Senior Independent Living
Technology Useful for Monitoring Health Statistics and Empowering Social Contact
March 29th, 2010
Filed under category: Independent Living, Personal Emergency Response Systems
The modern technology revolution is, among other things, a revolution of communication. Computers and the internet have allowed us to communicate in ways that we never realized were possible, though we always felt we wanted.
This ability to communicate so much information so freely will allow seniors in the coming years to have a degree of freedom we never before imagined.
…continue reading Technology Useful for Monitoring Health Statistics and Empowering Social Contact
Senior Living Community Under Construction in Corpus Christi, Texas
March 27th, 2010
Filed under category: Independent Living, Personal Emergency Response Systems, Senior Housing
The Texas non-profit organization, Senior Quality Lifestyles Corporation, is in the middle of building Mirador Senior Living Community, in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Texas Monthly (see link below) recently highlighted Mirador’s announcement of staff appointments, bringing Mirador’s opening closer to fruition.
…continue reading Senior Living Community Under Construction in Corpus Christi, Texas
Increase Safety with a Personal Emergency Response System
March 17th, 2010
Filed under category: Personal Emergency Response Systems, Technology and Computers
You’ve probably heard the advertisements for in-car safety systems that allow you to contact someone to help you with crash and disabled vehicle assistance, stolen vehicle location, even medical emergencies. It seems that at least one major car manufacturer is trying to pull itself out of recent financial difficulties by promoting its emergency call-in service.
One advertisement for the in-car emergency service featured a man who was having a low-sugar episode. He pushed the necessary button and got connected to the monitoring service, who was able to dispatch medical assistance to the driver.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could have that kind of protection in your home?
This kind of protection would be really great for many seniors who want to maintain independent living in their own home.
Well, that kind of protection is available in a personal emergency response system (also known as PERS).
With a PERS system, a senior who has a medical emergency in their home, such as a fall or the aforementioned low sugar episode, can simply push a button and get the assistance that many (younger) drivers are enjoying in their car. This is truly the wave of the future.
Warning Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke
March 8th, 2010
Filed under category: Health and Wellness, Personal Emergency Response Systems
Do you know the warning signs of a stroke? Most people probably know a little, but most of us don’t expect to be struck suddenly by a medical emergency, so we don’t think about it too much.
Senior Magazine has a good article on the statistics of stroke; and more importantly, they give the usual warning signs that a stroke is occurring.
Health Gadgets for the Future — But What About NOW??
March 7th, 2010
Filed under category: Fall Prevention, Personal Emergency Response Systems
Here’s a plea from what is quickly becoming my go-to authority on issues related to seniors and technology. Laurie Orlov asks that those who care for and about seniors need to think about protecting seniors in the present, not in some rosy-colored future.
The problem, she says, is that while we seem to be waiting for some miracle drug, pill, device, program to make the future better for seniors, most of those things have been invented, delivered, funded already. “Our senior population needs help now,” according to Laurie. Using the technologies already present, seniors could be protected by an inexpensive, simple, useful, wearable mobile health device. (At the base of this would be a variation on the PERS technology already readily available.)
She focuses especially on mHealth — medical diagnosis and treatment taken on the road. And while we see this as a positive development, it certainly is no panacea.
…continue reading Health Gadgets for the Future — But What About NOW??
The Right Independent Living Aids Can Help Your Parents Live at Home Longer
March 3rd, 2010
Filed under category: Independent Living, Personal Emergency Response Systems, Senior Housing
The Right Independent Living Aids Can Help Your Parents Live at Home Longer
By Jennifer Thieme
Independent living aids help seniors stay independent and in their own homes much longer. There are many reasons why this is important.
…continue reading The Right Independent Living Aids Can Help Your Parents Live at Home Longer
The Ten Things Caregivers Need
February 18th, 2010
Filed under category: Caregivers, Personal Emergency Response Systems
Caregivers face a difficult burden, emotional, mental, and physical. How to keep going with the burdens of care-giving is a big question.
Joy Loverde, writing in the ABC Eldercare blog, has ten recommendations — ten things that family caregivers need.
Difficulties Faced by Seniors with Type 2 Diabetes
January 31st, 2010
Filed under category: Health and Wellness, Personal Emergency Response Systems
The California Elder Abuse Blog recently opined on the difficulty that seniors have with type 2 diabetes. The likelihood of getting the disease increases with age, and the challenges that seniors face are more formidable.
One of the difficulties that seniors — or any diabetic — has with diabetes management is the possibility of insulin shock. That’s a great reason to have a personal emergency response system to summon help if you can’t immediately communicate with a friend or relative. Insulin shock is truly an emergency condition requiring rapid response.
…continue reading Difficulties Faced by Seniors with Type 2 Diabetes
Flexibility of Personal Emergency Response Systems for Seniors
January 18th, 2010
Filed under category: Alzheimer's, Personal Emergency Response Systems
A central-Florida in-home care provider has published a multiple-part article on their blog about the way technology can be used to improve the quality of life, and of health-care delivery, for seniors.
Comfort Keepers (see the link below the jump) suggests some additional ways to use to aid in monitoring and caring for seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
…continue reading Flexibility of Personal Emergency Response Systems for Seniors
Winter Cold Especially Difficult for Independent Seniors
January 13th, 2010
Filed under category: Fall Prevention, Personal Emergency Response Systems
What with the weather turning especially cold over the last six weeks, the headlines have featured many deaths from hypothermia. This has happened recently, even in sunny Florida, where temperatures have been dramatically colder than normal over the last week.
The rigors of winter can be especially difficult for the elderly, and the California Elder Abuse Blog has a checklist of tips for surviving the assault of frigid cold and snow.
…continue reading Winter Cold Especially Difficult for Independent Seniors
