Watching a loved one grow old is an emotional and sensitive experience. Even if they say they don’t need it, older people require special care and comfort in order to live a healthy and happy life. Deciding to put your loved one in a senior care facility is always a tough decision.  However, thanks to the advancements in technology over the past 20 years, there has never been a better time for senior care.

Aging Population Continues to Grow

According to the Administration for Community Living, the senior citizen population is rapidly growing in America, which has put senior care at the forefront of the healthcare industry. If you have to make the hard decision to put your loved one in a nursing home or assisted living center, you can be assured they will be in good care thanks to modern medicine and technological advancements. Here are seven ways technology has changed senior care for the better.

The Internet Connects Medical Professionals

Thanks to the internet, medical professionals around the world can bounce ideas off one another and learn from each other. The internet has allowed medical professionals to share important information in senior care, from medicine schedules to recognizing vital signs and more. The quicker essential information spreads, the better senior care is throughout the world.

Cameras

Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is a harsh reality in the senior care industry, even with the persistence of advocacy groups seeking to bring the issue to light. According to the World Health Organization and other reputable sources, 1 out of every 6 seniors experience some form of abuse, while only 1 out of 24 cases are reported. However, with the growing presence of cameras monitoring residents and staff, family members can be assured their loved ones are being cared for properly. In addition, cameras help medical professionals observe patients’ behaviors and tendencies, allowing them to develop better treatment plans.

GPS Monitoring

In the past few years, the accuracy of GPS monitoring has vastly improved. Many residents in nursing homes suffer memory issues like Alzheimer’s and dementia, which could lead to patients wandering off and getting lost. GPS technology allows families and medical staff to monitor at-risk residents through GPS trackers. They are typically placed in a patient’s clothes or shoes, making it easy for them to be found if they are not where they are supposed to be.

Virtual Assistants

Doctors and nurses cannot be physically present with a patient all of the time, especially in larger nursing home settings. Virtual assistant apps on touchscreen tablets have automated voices reminding patients to take medications and letting them know they are not alone. In addition, residents can scroll through digital content, watch movies, and listen to music through voice activation.

Phone Apps

One of the biggest ways technology has helped seniors and caregivers is through smartphones and digital apps. With one device, seniors and caregivers can monitor medication, heart rate, sleep patterns, and daily activities. However, the most important role smartphones play in senior care is allowing patients to connect with family members no matter where they are. Thanks to face-to-face video calling, family members and friends can easily spend time with their loved ones even if they are far away.

Emergency Response Devices

Services like life alert have drastically improved emergency response services when it comes to senior care. Issues such as hearing loss, lack of mobility, and decreases in visual acuity put elders in danger if they are left alone. Luckily, these gadgets make it easy for seniors to alert nurses or nearby hospitals if they fall and injure themselves. So, it is important to have an alert system.

Medication Assistance

Seniors may need many different medications to function throughout the day, which can be challenging to keep up with. Luckily, companies have developed new smart pill bottles that allow doctors to monitor when patients take their medication. It also has built-in alarms letting patients know what pill to take and exactly when to take it.

Technology Continues to Improve Senior Care

As technology continues to advance, senior care will continue to improve. Today’s issues will shortly become issues of the past as the medical industry works towards a healthier overall population.