October 12, 2020
Published on StowellAssociates.com
Aging in place is a natural desire for older adults. An AARP survey reports that 3 out of 4 adults 50 years and older want to continue living in their homes and communities as they age. Communities may provide some support, but what about the risks of living alone?
Is remotely monitoring older adults at home possible?
Can adult children monitor their parents with personal monitoring devices for the elderly?
Learn about four different home monitoring systems for seniors, and how you can best monitor elderly loved ones with a more personal touch than technology can provide.
Technology Made for Monitoring Older Adults Remotely
Remote monitoring is common for newborn babies, but did you know there are personal monitoring devices for elderly adults? Elderly monitoring systems are especially beneficial for those with dementia. Here are four options to consider if you’re looking for a home monitoring system for senior loved ones.
1. AngelSense: GPS Tracker for Dementia Wandering
AngelSense is a wearable GPS tracker that you can discreetly attach to your loved one’s clothing. Only the person who holds the “parent key” can remove the device. Family members can download a mobile app where they can:
- Receive constant updates about their loved one’s location.
- Speak to loved ones through an auto pick-up speakerphone.
- Activate a search and rescue team by sharing their loved one’s location with first responders.
Your elderly loved one can also quickly contact you through the mobile app by pressing the one-click SOS button on their personal device. Dementia home monitoring devices like AngelSense are a proactive step to protecting your loved ones who live alone and are prone to wander.
2. Baby Monitor for Seniors: No WiFi or Apps Needed
Elderly parents who live with dementia or Alzheimer’s can be hard to predict. A baby monitor can be a simple solution for adult children who don’t want to agitate their aging parents by moving them into an assisted living home. Baby monitors can work perfectly well as a monitoring system for seniors, thanks to new strides in technology.
Some families may already own a baby monitor, but you’ll want more than audio-only or grainy black and white video capabilities to check on mom or dad. A monitor such as Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor boasts two-way audio, video, and complete control of the camera to zoom, pan the room, or tilt for a better view.
Consider placing a baby monitor for seniors in every room of your house to begin monitoring elderly parents remotely.
3. LifeAlert: Fall Monitor for Elderly Adults
The fall monitor that you’re most likely already familiar with is LifeAlert–the “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” company. Everyone has seen the commercial, but the reality is that every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall. A wearable fall monitor can be instrumental in getting your loved one the help they need immediately.
LifeAlert also developed a waterproof “HELP Button,” exclusively designed for areas where seniors are most vulnerable at home, such as the bathroom. According to an audited study, LifeAlert enables seniors to live at home longer than those who don’t use this fall monitor technology.
4. Project Lifesaver: A Program, Not a Product
Project Lifesaver is a premier search and rescue program for “at-risk” individuals, such as elderly dementia patients, who are prone to the life-threatening behavior of wandering. The program is run at a municipality level by public safety agencies that are trained, alerted, and able to quickly locate individuals with cognitive disorders.
When you enroll a loved one in Project Lifesaver, they receive a personal tracking bracelet to wear on their wrist or ankle, and family members or caregivers get a portable alarm. You can set a perimeter of 100-300 feet, and once the bracelet is out of reach, the alarm emits a visual and audible alert until the wearer is brought back to safety.
Whether someone is nearby or not, these elder care monitors can alert the necessary people during emergencies.
However, family caregiver alert systems can only help so much.
A Caregiver: Monitor Your Loved One With Care
Technology is not always reliable, and your loved ones may not like the idea of you watching them with a device 24/7. Some of the technology is preventative, but most are alert systems that let you know when something is already wrong. Even if one of these elderly monitoring systems is in place, you still might not have complete peace of mind or time to check the device all day long.
We believe that professional caregivers are the best home monitoring system for seniors.
At Stowell Associates, the health and home safety of your loved one is our first priority. Monitoring elderly parents remotely through a trusted caregiver ensures your loved one receives personalized care when they need it. You can check-in at any time for an update, but the stress of family caregiving is off of your shoulders.
Consider using an elderly monitoring system when a professional caregiver isn’t present, or ask about around-the-clock care. Our care managers can help you make the best decision for both you and your loved one.
Source: https://stowellassociates.com/monitoring-elderly-parents-remotely/
Summary: This article touches on some of the solutions currently being used to monitor elderly people. These technologies are interesting to me because there is a certain respect that comes with monitoring someone older, perhaps a parent, that could be translated to a product for kids. Everyone deserves to be treated like a person, so the subtle tones of respect in these products could be spread across the board.
