As technology evolves alongside an aging American population, more and more gadgets and devices emerge dedicated expressly to improving the quality of life in older people. One of the most recent inventions in the tech space is wearable technology, which has adapted to the needs of elderly people to help them stay connected, healthy, and ensure life is accessible. In this blog post, we will discuss ten ways that wearable technology has made life easier for seniors.
Fall Detection
As humans age, we become more susceptible to falls, which can be dangerous and cause serious injuries. Wearable technology such as smartwatches and fitness trackers come with fall detection features that notify emergency services or contacts when a fall is detected. This feature provides peace of mind for the elderly and their loved ones.
GPS Tracking
Wearable technology for elderly people often comes fitted with GPS tracking capability. This critical technology can allow caregivers and family to locate their elderly loved one if they wander away or get lost.
Geo-Fencing
Geo-fencing is an innovative feature of wearable tech that enables caregivers to set up virtual boundaries for the wearer. As soon as the elderly person wanders beyond this pre-determined boundary, their care team is alerted automatically via a notification. This feature protects elderly patients’ safety and prevents them from getting lost.
Social Connection
Seniors often report feeling lonely. Wearable tech like social media apps and video chat platforms can help foster social connections with friends and family, enabling seniors to remain socially engaged while remaining safe in their homes.
Medication Reminders
Medication adherence is a significant hurdle for seniors, and it's no secret that missing prescribed medication can lead to severe health complications. Wearable tech can help remind seniors to take their daily medications promptly via a daily timer or specialized app.
Fitness Tracking
Staying active is crucial for the elderly, and wearable technology like fitness tracking watches can help them manage activity levels and motivate them to exercise. Fitness trackers can help seniors set goals, track their steps, monitor their heart rate, and effortlessly monitor their own progress.
Remote Health Monitoring
Smartwatches and fitness trackers can be used for remote health monitoring, allowing doctors to gather and save valuable information about the wellness of their elderly patients. Furthermore, caregivers and family members can access these devices (with permission!) to keep abreast of the health of their elderly loved ones from afar.
Voice Recognition
Wearables such as smart speakers and devices can assist the elderly with everyday tasks such as setting reminders, making phone calls, and controlling appliances around the home. Furthermore, such devices make life more accessible for people with visual and mobility imparements.
Smart eyeglasses
Wearable technology like smart eyeglasses provide a hands-free experience that can be beneficial for the elderly. Smart eyeglasses come with features such as zoom-in functionalities and voice commands, and can be used to display reminders.
Emergency Alerts
Gone are the days of the wearable panic buttons (“Help! I’ve fallen and I can't get up!”) In the case of an emergency, wearable tech can send an automatic panic alert to caregivers, family members or first responders when a senior is incapacitated. Some technology can even call automatically when it senses an irregular heart or breathing pattern, allowing responders to quickly attend the situation and respond effectively.
Wearable technology has evolved to provide seniors with the support and assistance they need in their golden years. Wearable tech can not only provide assistance with everyday tasks, but it can also monitor health and wellbeing, track fitness, and allow for remote health monitoring. The above ten ways wearable technology can help the elderly is just a preview to help people choose the right wearable technology to support them in daily life.
The experts at Doha, Inc. can help you find the most current wearable technology for elderly people in your life. Get in touch with us today to learn more.
