The Rising Trend of Technology in Elderly Care

Elder care is a person-centred way of providing care and support to the elderly. It involves face-to-face care by creating a personal relationship with the client and making them feel comfortable in their own home. So why do we need technology in elder care, and what technology is used?

Some of the key technologies used in elder care include:

• Health tracking that utilises apps to create accurate health reports and keep the client’s family up to date.

• Medication reminders to create a calendar of alerts to remind the client to take their medication.

• Audio and video monitoring can also be used so that families can monitor the level of care and feel more comfortable leaving the carer alone with their loved one.

Read on to find out more about the technologies that are used in elder care, what future trends we expect to see in the next few years, and how they can benefit the client!

What Technology Is Used in Eldercare?

In elderly care, there are a variety of technologies that can be employed to improve both the quality of care and the life of the client. These come in all shapes and sizes, with some being directly interacted with by the client, while others operate unnoticed in the background. 

Here are some of the key technologies that are already used in elder care:

• Health Tracking: At Rivendell Care, we use a specialist app to create more accurate health reports that are easier to keep up to date. It also allows our client’s loved ones to see real-time updates and notes as soon as care has been completed.

• Medication Reminders: It’s easy nowadays to create an alert on your phone or tablet which will remind you of which medications to take and when.

• Monitoring: While not something that we would ever use, many family members feel more comfortable allowing a carer into their loved one’s home if they can monitor it too. It also ensures that should they have a slip or fall, you’ll be able to find out straight away.

• Task Planning: Planning tasks and care through a specialist application is a great way to maintain consistency for your care and save time. It will also help to form a full strategy and reduce time spent on unnecessary tasks.

What Are Three Trends In Technology That Can Be Used In Elderly Care?

Technology is constantly evolving, with new technologies popping up in every area. Here are a few of the new elder care technology trends that we expect to see more of in the next few years:

• Health Tracking Reports: Health tracking is a relatively new concept, but we expect this to become a key component of any care plan in the near future. As it becomes increasingly advanced, we’ll be able to see rise and falls of key health markers, enabling the carer to make in-depth decisions backed by data to improve the quality of care.

• Wearable Technology: Wearable fitness trackers and smartwatches are a great way for the elderly to track health and general wellness. Many can also provide reports so that the data can be tracked over time. While this would take some investment, many caregivers may utilise these to monitor their client’s health and tailor their care.

• Virtual Assistants: AI or virtual assistants make everything easier. Because virtual assistants like Google Home or Amazon Alexa are voice-activated, there’s no risk of being lost or causing confusion like an alarm on a mobile would. The assistant can be used to set alarms to perform tasks like taking medicine, making phone calls, and more, meaning that the carer’s client won’t forget while they’re not around. The best part is that the assistant can even explain what the task is to make it easier.

Why Is Assistive Technology Good for the Elderly?

Technologies can benefit elderly care in many different ways depending on their individual needs. Those with dementia might need assistance with remembering certain things, while a visually impaired person might utilise a text-to-speech program to help them read information.

To put it simply, the higher the level of care, the higher the quality of life! The more a carer can do for their clients, the happier and healthier their clients will be. With new technologies, carers will be able to save more time, provide better care, and create more personalised care plans based on their individual data.

If you’re looking for at-home elderly care in London, get in touch with Rivendell Care & Support. While not every client wants to use it, we can provide you with a free app so you can keep up to date with your loved one’s care and receive 24/7 communication from our team.