Do you line up the night before to buy the latest shiny new device being launched the next day? Perhaps you are a self-proclaimed “luddite” who opposes technological change. More likely, you shun the two extremes and embrace technology that actually works, serves you, and makes your life easier, safer, and more convenient. New technologies are being introduced continually to help us maintain our independence and age more safely in place. Monitors alert us to take specific medications at prescribed times of day and ensure the medications are accessible only then. Do you fear a loved one will miss taking meds? No problem. A pre-recorded reminder message can arrive to the loved one through the TV set and a text message can alert you or another caregiver that the meds were not taken. Motion detectors can identify when routine activities of daily living fail to be carried out. Perhaps the fridge door was not opened throughout the day or the toilet was not flushed. Once again, caregivers can be alerted to the lack of activity. In terms of your personal health, blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar can be monitored on a regular basis. Various vital biomarkers can be tracked, recorded, and uploaded to a cloud file for review by your healthcare practitioners. Is mobility a problem or do you live in a rural area? Telehealth connections allow you to engage directly with healthcare professionals through Skype and other technologies. Robots are being developed to assume some of the caregiving tasks and Japan is leading the way. With an emerging aging population and an insufficient number of caregivers...
