Technological solutions for the elderly and dependents

The elderly and dependent people constitute a very special group, which brings together experience and wisdom and great courage to overcome the difficulties inherent to their condition; in the midst of the digital age, the care of the elderly and dependent people is adapted to the new times by integrating technological solutions adapted, and constituting a great help to provide all these people with a simpler life.

The "pending accounts" of older and dependent people with technology

When people lose their autonomy, daily life becomes an uphill battle: tasks that are normally not analyzed begin to become daily obstacles that hinder day-to-day life. Professionals who care for these people work to make their routines more accessible, almost always with manual methods. In addition, the digital divide that separates older people from digital natives can cause this group to feel outdated compared to younger people: it's hard to imagine a day without the Internet, social networks or streaming, and many older people are very reluctant to adopt new technologies in their lives. However, it's paradoxical to see that the same technology that some don't adapt to and others give up on voluntarily is precisely a support channel for both older and dependent people, as well as for those who provide socio-healthcare to them.

Some technological solutions designed for the care of the elderly and dependent

Advances in technology allow us to reach levels that for many older people seem “science fiction”: that lights turn on by themselves, that doors open and close without touching them, that with a button they can start a video call with their children and grandchildren, or that their vital and physical constants are collected by a watch and are remotely monitored by someone who watches over them.

Home Automation

Home automation programming by hours or events.Through the use of home automation, older and dependent people can delegate certain tasks and checks to intelligent systems that, fortunately, usually work quite regularly.When family help is not possible, and an older person has to live alone, having home automation devices can really make life easier, both for them and their families: from establishing routines for turning boilers or light points on and off, to visual checks using video cameras.People who care for older and dependent people have, especially, in video cameras, a great ally: with a relatively low delay rate, you can keep the person under surveillance and come to their aid with relative speed.

Smart locks

One of the obstacles that these people usually have to overcome is something as simple as opening the front door: they forget where the key is, they waste a lot of time finding it, or it gets lost directly.The solution, again, lies in home automation; and involves installing a smart lock or automatic opening device, at least on the outer portal: a time slot can be established in which the person can always cross the door when they ring the doorbell.If we also think about nursing homes or day centers, staff can perform door openings through a central control system via web or via an application on their smartphone: it is the best option for people with recurring access.It is also possible to implement greater security by previously validating the identity of those who are going to cross the door: it is about configuring the access system to generate a phone number, in such a way that the person who is going to enter makes a missed call with their mobile number (previously authenticated in the control application), and that this missed call works like a doorbell call to grant them access.

Smart wristbands

The smart wristbands are a type of wearable whose main functionalities include monitoring some vital signs, such as heart and respiratory rate, as well as serving as an alert to emergency healthcare services (or to people designated as emergency contacts) if they detect that the person has fallen or been hit. Another of its great aids is providing a precise GPS location of the person's whereabouts: many older people who suffer from severe cognitive impairment may experience absence and disorientation crises, with the consequent risk of getting lost.

Telecare

Older and dependent people are especially exposed to spending many hours alone. Isolation is one of their greatest enemies, as we were sadly able to verify at the start of the confinement in Spain, when so many older people died in their homes without any of their relatives missing them until several days after their death.Having a Tablet or a smartphone connected to the Internet could be a real lifeline for these people: instant messaging and videoconferencing applications have gained more popularity than ever, and have been postulated as the great allies to alleviate the loneliness of the elderly, bringing them closer to their loved ones on their screens with amazing ease.And on the other side of the screen are not only family members or friends: there are also professionals in geriatric care, accessible through simple applications on their phones, who can chat with the elderly or dependent person, monitor their health status and refer to specialized or urgent care in the event of suspected complications.The care of older and dependent people is becoming a challenge increasingly addressed by technological advances, and the accessibility of locks is one of the most daily and important points that we believe these people need to have resolved. From Raixer we bet on a secure and very easy to install and use smart lock system.‍

We also recommend downloading the elderly caregiver employment contract model.