Aging-in-Place
Risk Management for Those with Special Needs
Most elders have a strong preference for living out their golden years at home, rather than having to adjust to the unfamiliar surroundings of assisted living or other medical facilities. Good News: special technologies are now increasingly available to monitor important medical and safety conditions for elderly, infirm, or special needs individuals who live at home alone—or are unattended for periods of time. In addition, standard smart home technologies can be adapted to address their special needs.
These electronic aids can also be programed to alert appropriate responders when help may be needed. Combined with basic home automation technologies such as lighting control, access control, and security cameras, they can do much to help manage the risks associated with aging-in-place.
They can also be adapted to help other special needs residents make daily life more enjoyable and less frustrating—for example watching TV, listening to music, or using a computer.
Properly employed, these devices can reduce the occurrence of medical situations which might otherwise trigger a (possibly permanent) transfer from home into some form of care facility. These situations include:
- Dehydration—not drinking enough fluids.
- Malnutrition—not eating enough of the right kinds of food.
- Medication Non-Compliance—skipping medications or taking too much.
- Accidents—injuries caused by falls and other incidents.
- Timely Help—for simple emergencies, or situations that can put elders at risk physically.
- Security—forgetting to lock doors, set alarms, etc.
Simple support technologies include:
- Medical bed pads—which monitor skin temperature, respiration, and quality of sleep.
- Medication dispensers—pre-scheduled and/or remotely-operated, which help maintain and track daily medication regimens.
- Sensors & event counters—placed in the refrigerator, or elsewhere, to provide useful indicators of food and fluid intake.
- Passive devices—like motion detectors, timers, and counters, which alert caregivers or family members of unusual behavioral patterns or possible medical emergencies.
Other options include:
- Door locks—automated or remotely monitored and actuated, to keep elders safe.
- Security cameras—placed outside and/or inside the home, to visually reassure family and caretakers that all is well, and to help remotely assess situations that might require an emergency response.
- TV and Hi-Fi technologies to provide entertainment and comfort to those with impaired vision or hearing.
- Custom-tailored control systems to accommodate the special needs of occupants.
When properly integrated into a smart home system, these technologies can relay detailed information regarding someone aging-in-place—or otherwise confined to home—to family members, neighbors, or home healthcare specialists, who can then respond in a timely and appropriate fashion when needed.
An Aging Population
This changing demographic places unprecedented stress on Medicare, Medicaid, and family financial resources. Yet the benefits of supporting and maintaining loved ones at home can be enormous—both financially and emotionally.
Using appropriate electronic devices to support their desire to live in their own home for as long as feasible, can do much to reduce many of the medical and psychological risks associated with aging, and delay or eliminate the necessity for their transition from home into a care facility. And because of the great costs associated with assisted living care, the payback time for implementing these safety nets in the home can be very short—for some, often as little as a month or less.
In sum, the benefits of supporting and maintaining elders at home can be great—both financially and emotionally. Used appropriately, electronic support devices can do much to reduce many of the everyday risks associated with living at home alone during the mature years.
For more information, see Medical Monitoring; Tailor the Tech to Your Lifestyle; An Electronic Safety Net for Elders; The Aging-in-Place Plan.