Maintaining Your Independence - Safely

Technology Solutions that Ensure Safety for Seniors living at Home

The population of seniors in America (those over the age of 65) is growing at a faster speed than the working age population. Mature adults greatest desire is to remain independent in their own homes.  Technology has greatly increased their ability to do so, while reducing the risks associated with aging.  It also gives the distant family member a greater peace of mind when they or a caregiver can’t be present.

Falls and Medication errors are two of the biggest threats to a senior’s ability to live independently.

13.3 million people 65 and older will fall this year. One every 2.3 seconds.  Falls are the # 1 reason for Emergency Room visits for folks over 65. Certain medications can cause adverse effects and toxic effects that increase the likelihood of falling. There is also a strong relationship between the time it takes for help to arrive and the severity of injuries. The longer someone lays on the floor after an injury the worse that injury becomes. A quick response can even save a life. 

According to CMS, more than 70% of in-episode re-admissions have a significant medication non-compliance component. The management of symptoms, and their progression, today involves complex cocktails of highly-targeted pharmaceuticals whose effectiveness relies on faithful, relentless blood-serum levels. Missing doses, taking meds out of sequence, or taking doses too often all create doctor or hospital visits, illness, and even death.  For seniors, approximately 1 out of 10 hospital admissions are the result of the incorrect use of medications.

Personal Emergency Monitoring Systems are typically waterproof buttons that when pushed call directly through to a professionally monitored center, where they ascertain your emergency and can call for assistance from a friend or call 911 services.  These are designed to get you quick help when you can’t reach a phone.  Advanced versions can also do medication reminders, perform a check to see you are OK in the morning, and even check the line to make sure the system is working properly. Latest versions also have portable units that can work from anywhere like the golf course, have GPS tracking, can automatically detect a fall, or can work even if you don’t have a landline. Beware that some systems won’t work with the new voice over internet phone services.

There are several types of Medication Dispenser Systems available.  Some that just remind you when to take your pills, all the way to locked units that alert you to the correct time to push a button and your correct pills drop into a little cup for you to take.  They even will call a responder if you do not activate the machine to get your pills.  The cost of these rentals are much less than a stay in the hospital.

Other technologies enable video monitoring or wireless sensors that learn your living patterns and can report activity that is out of the ordinary.

It is best to work with a senior advisor that is local (for questions, repairs, or replacement of parts) that can review your particular needs, understands the different features and is able to make recommendations to design a system to give you and your family peace of mind.

If I can help just give me a call 941-921-4747 or check out some of the products available at www.healthcominc.com