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Assistive Technology to Promote Aging In Place—a User Friendly Guide

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There are many options for people who need assistance with activities of daily living—homecare, adult day care, assisted living. While these options may appeal for different reasons, as a supporter of aging in place, I lean toward one of the first two. If you’re like most people, you probably want to stay in your own home as long as possible. Assistive technology makes that goal a lot less challenging. Since technology can be a little frightening (at least for me), I’ve decided to make this blog user-friendly by presenting the information piece by piece.

What is assistive technology?

According to the Eldercare Locater Web site, assistive technology is any service or tool that helps promotes greater independence by enabling the elderly to perform tasks that they weren’t able to do before, or were able to do, but only with great difficulty.

How does assistive technology support aging in place?

In 2004, Baylor College of Medicine’s Huffington Center on Aging found that of 36 million seniors in the US, over 10 million live alone and 95% of them want to age in place. Another 30% of seniors move into long-term care facilities don’t make this move out of necessity, but because of caregiver burnout. A more widespread use of assistive technology might help to decrease that last statistic. Assistive technology can include any of the following: keyless entry systems, computerized medication dispensers, video doorbells, stair lifts and personal heating systems. Most of this is not new. Here’s where it gets interesting: a “smart home” (a home that uses automated technology) can also incorporate responsive and preventative systems, including an incontinence monitor, a respiration monitor, an inactivity monitor that would notify emergency services if someone is idle for too long, and activities of daily living tracking systems that use sensors to identify habitual tasks. The systems establish a norm of activity to identify potentially dangerous deviations from this norm.

What are ambient intelligence environments?

Ambient intelligence environments are not yet as advanced as they will be soon. Researchers at Intel say they’re an ideal way to manage health and wellness needs. These environments use sensors to track human activity in the home. Intel’s research team experiments with ambient display technologies, which allows family members to provide care remotely and check in on their loved ones from home. Perhaps when Grandpa turns on a lamp, this could alert the family that he got home safely. They might even be able to see him nestled safely in his armchair via a camera embedded in a “smart photo frame.”

Is assistive technology only used in home environments?

Assistive technology is not just for the home—it’s also being used in long-term care facilities. USA Today published an article in July of 2006 about Oatfield, which uses technology to measure and monitor its residents. The homelike facility resembles the best of assisted living facilities with one difference—inconspicuous sensors. Both staff and family members have access to a computer network that identifies the exact location of badges worn by residents. The facility also uses bed sensors which can monitor weight and alert staff members if someone gets out of bed.

How can I incorporate assistive technology into my home?

Some Certified Aging in Place Specialists are assistive technology consultants, as well. Because this is a relatively new area of expertise for professionals, the market isn’t huge, but it exists. If you’re unable to find an assistive technology consultant, check the Technology for Long-Term Care website, a government-funded resource that sells assistive technology devices. According to the site, chairs, beds and toilet arms can all work as fall-detection devices, with embedded sensors that are connected to an alarmed control unit. Some devices are designed to sense body altitude and detect the force of an impact to determine when someone falls—talk about advanced! Offering “technical” support—

Lori Deschene

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Not yet automated? Gilbert Guide lists your best long-term care options along with information on how to find and assess your long-term options.

Posted in: Aging in Place, Assistive Technology, How-to's

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4 Responses to “Assistive Technology to Promote Aging In Place—a User Friendly Guide”

1. CrandellJ Says:
   

   I remember the day I got my first computer. I never imagined it would get this high tech but ir really does sound like a great way to stay at home and stay safe.

2. Artificial Intelligence—Robots!—in Assistive Technology | Gilbert Guide Blog Says:
   

   […] The “Tech Act” of 1988—renamed the Assistive Technology Act in 1998—spawned an assistive technology revolution that brought funding to researchers and statewide programs for technological assistance. In my last post, I explored assistive technology as it applies to aging in place—including assistance with activities of daily living, health monitoring through preventative and responsive systems, and the use of sensors to track a person’s actions—or, inaction! In this installment, we’ll take a closer look at artificial intelligence (AI)—otherwise known as robots, and how they can ease the process of long-term care. For those of you who think I overslept and am still dreaming of being Judy Jetson, rest assured; I am fully cognizant. Yes, robots for seniors are the wave of the future, and the “future” is finally here. […]

3. Aging in Place: Assistive Technology Resources | Gilbert Guide Blog Says:
   

   […] Recently, I’ve been focusing on technology to promote aging in place because I fancy myself a forward thinker. It’s no secret that boomers are approaching retirement age and will soon be thinking about long-term care. This leaves me wondering: who will provide all that care—and quality care, at that? And equally important: who will pay for it? Perhaps seniors will flock to the bank for reverse mortgages so they can access their equity without selling their homes. Alternatively, maybe more people will embrace assistive technology to make remaining at home a reality. Yes, this could be a reality for you—whether you’re a techie or a technophobe. In case I haven’t demystified assistive technology yet, remember: an assistive device can be as simple as a wheelchair or as advanced as a sensor-based tele-care system. Either way, independence-promoting devices are far more accessible that you may think. […]

4. morganusvitus Says:
   

   The site looks great ! Thanks for all your help ( past, present and future !)

5. My Mom Needs to Move…I Think! | Gilbert Guide Blog Says:
   

   […] It happens every year, starting the week after Thanksgiving: adult children migrate home to spend time with their parents and see signs that their parents are aging. Sometimes the signs are subtle, such as undone chores, or deferred home maintenance; sometimes they’re more alarming, such as a significant weight loss, unsteady balance, or the inability to remember major life events. Every year around this time, I receive a deluge of phone calls from panicky family members who declare, “It’s time for my parents to move!” Very often the urgency I hear from these adult children is not because their parent is in a life-or-death situation, but because it was the first time they witnessed signs of their parents needing assistance. Many of my clients don’t live close enough to check on their parents at home, so they don’t have the peace of mind that comes with knowing their parents are safe and happy. After a visit, it can be unnerving to leave a loved one who has health issues that need addressing. Many adult children think that the ultimate peace of mind will come if they move their parents into a senior community where there will be others around to lend a hand if something should happen. So I understand when they call and insist that their parents must move. However, it may be that your parent simply needs a little help with chores or transportation. There’s an entire continuum of senior services that ranges from home care and home health care services to twenty-four hour nursing care in nursing homes. Although I make my living helping people move, I advocate helping elders stay in their homes for as long as they want to, and as long as it’s safe. Aging in place is a relatively new phenomenon with a growing segment of services to help support our elders staying exactly where they are, for as long as they want to stay there. But if moving is the right answer, how do you know your options for moving your parents when you live three states away? The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM) can help you locate a professional who can work with you and your parent to assess their needs and determine if it’s truly time for your parent to make a move, and if so, the kind of housing that might be the best fit. If it’s time for your parent to move to independent or assisted living, there are local services that can help you facilitate the move. If you’re helping your parents move long distance, here are some resources you can call on: […]

6. My Mom Needs to Move…I Think! | Gilbert Guide Blog Says:
   

   […] After a visit, it can be unnerving to leave a loved one who has health issues that need addressing. Many adult children think that the ultimate peace of mind will come if they move their parents into a senior community where there will be others around to lend a hand if something should happen. So I understand when they call and insist that their parents must move. However, it may be that your parent simply needs a little help with chores or transportation. There’s an entire continuum of senior services that ranges from home care and home health care services to twenty-four hour nursing care in nursing homes. Although I make my living helping people move, I advocate helping elders stay in their homes for as long as they want to, and as long as it’s safe. Aging in place is a relatively new phenomenon with a growing segment of services to help support our elders staying exactly where they are, for as long as they want to stay there. […]

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