I am an HGTV junkie, and I have no problem admitting it! I could watch hour after hour of programming about everything from restoring historical stone houses in Pennsylvania, all the way up to touring new, modern homes that are equipped with the latest technology. A recent show featured the latest one- touch home system that would automatically tint the home’s windows at sunset each day, as well as provide remote home security options. The recent advances in home technology are simply amazing!

What really puzzles me is that this same caliber of technology seems to lag lightyears behind when we’re talking about the availability of products that could assist in providing a quality lifestyle and secure environment for seniors. As someone who’s been on the “inside” of senior care facilities for decades, and also involved in some phases of Electronic Health Record (EHR) implementation, I can see that much focus has been made on innovations in technology advancement for providers – to be used in tracking service delivery, medication administration, etc., but yet little has been seen in advancement of products that have been developed for use BY seniors.

My mom lived in senior housing for years before she finally needed care in a nursing home at the end of her life. Due to several small strokes, she had difficulty in communicating verbally. Her body was strong, but due to hearing loss and aphasia, the only way we could communicate with her was in writing. Imagine my constant worry in trying to support her independence in her apartment, but having so little opportunity to “check in” on a regular basis to assure her safety.

Amazingly enough, while my mom’s generation lived through the incredible technology growth of the 20th century - moving from horse and buggy to space travel, she was slow to adapt to things like microwave ovens and TV remotes, and as hard as we tried, we never could get her to learn how to work the DVR. But, as the Boomer generation slides into the senior market, however, we may most likely see a big shift in the momentum of development of personal use technology for seniors, as well as user acceptance. Here are some products with enhancements currently available on the market:

Technology Advancements Made for Seniors

Smart appliances – Kitchen safety and the risk for fires is a monumental concern for those who support seniors living independently. CookStop has developed a cook-top with a built in motion sensor. If the unit doesn’t detect movement within a specified time period, it will automatically turn off. General Electric ovens with touch-pad clock controls can be adapted to shut off automatically after 12 hours.

Home Sensors - Fall detection and prevention is a major concern in every level of senior care. Mom wore the Philips Life-Line pendant which required her to “check in” on a weekly basis and also sent emergency assistance if the button was pushed and she did not respond. New versions of the same concept include gyroscopic motion sensors to measure the individual’s sway, orientation and impact upon falling. Commwell Medical manufactures a chair that has embedded sensor technology that will measure blood pressure, temperature, lung sounds, oxygen saturation, and motion and reflex response time. While some might find it cost prohibitive, a more sophisticated model includes the ability to transmit the data to health care professionals.

Blood Glucose Monitoring – WebMd.com shares information on blood glucose monitoring devices with large character readout or voice response for the vision impaired. Also available are glucometers that sync with a smartphone app or website. On the development horizon are glucometers that will be able to test blood glucose with a transdermal sensor – eliminating the need for needles and those nasty finger sticks!

Social Media and Devices — Communication is key! Social interaction is integral to the emotional well-being of anyone – and vital to positive outcomes for those who choose to age in place. Keeping in touch with family and friends – as well as caregivers is paramount. While physical activity is important to keep the body strong, brain exercise is vital to maintaining cognitive skills in the aging process. In-Touch Tablets, LLC., has a tablet specifically designed for seniors that includes Wi-Fi, email, dexterity games, and a senior gaming platform that will help to keep the brain engaged and active. Programs are presented in an easy to read/easy to use format to help the user with adaptation to the new technology. While we may not yet be seeing technology on the level of today’s “smart homes”, consumer electronic developers such as Hewlett Packard are certainly looking at ways to enhance the lives of today’s seniors with programs such as “Connected Living”. Here the focus is not so much on the device, but on giving seniors the ability to connect with their community and the rest of the world.

Now if someone would just invent an app that would clean my car!!