4 Ways Technology is Transforming Elder Care – Courtesy of Click Intelligence

Technology is transforming healthcare in many ways, but it has made a huge difference in the senior healthcare sector. Technology is not only facilitating interactions between health practitioners and senior patients but it is also making diagnostics and monitoring easier. Here are some of the ways technology is completely revolutionizing elder care.

Increased Safety

Recent surveys have shown that as they age, seniors cherish their home more and have a tendency to become homebodies. This in the past had the effect of creating a sense of isolation between the elderly and their families and caregivers. However, with the advent of personal emergency response systems, seniors can get assistance at the touch of a button. This provides an extra sense of peace of mind to both elderly people and their loved ones.

Their immediate family can also check on them at any time, whether it is through their personal emergency response system or through video chat applications such as Skype. This alleviates the sense of solitude a lot of seniors end up experiencing when their close family is simply unable to visit them on a regular visit, which can be a real morale booster and benefit their overall health.

Medication Management

According to a 2009 survey conducted by Medco Health Solutions, over half of the seniors surveyed said that they take a minimum of at least five prescription drugs on a regular basis. The average respondent said that they take up to 19 prescription pills every day. So, it comes as no surprise that a large portion mentioned that they felt confused and had difficulty keeping track.

Pillboxes are a help, but apps that remind patients when to take their pills with easy to set alerts can do a great deal to prevent excessive dosage or omissions.

Advanced Health Data

With advanced monitoring, cloud-based applications can be used by caregivers to track things such as medical history, medication, and physician contacts, all deftly organized and easily accessible. This information can be used by masters in health informatics students to monitor progress and administer personalized care. More and more people with a specialized online master in health informatics degree are being hired to monitor and decipher medical data and assist health practitioners with more precise diagnostics and treatment options.

The Advent of the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things, or IoT for short, refers to the increasingly large network of internet-connected internet-enabled devices that share information either through close networks or through the cloud. With the recent advancements in wearable technology, doctors can monitor their patient’s’ condition 24/7 without having to leave their office. They could instantly provide alerts in case of anomalies and give specific specifications to patients depending on their condition. They could also adjust or completely stop certain medications the minute they see improvement in the patient’s condition.

Conclusion

As you can see, technology is completely changing the face of elder care, and for the better. Between wearables, the internet of things, telemedicine, and advanced medication management, there is no telling what the future has to offer for elder care.