Technological Breakthroughs in Elder Care

The world of elder care is never going to be the same again. With personal technology advancing at the rate it is, it is more likely than ever before for a senior citizen to be safe in their own homes. This doesn't just include alarm systems or life line type call systems. New technology is moving forward making senior care easier than ever before.

Consider the eNeighbor. This is a wireless sensor that can be attached underneath a bed. It records when your elderly loved one gets in and out of bed. If something unusual is noticed, it sends a message to authorities who then call the house. If there is no answer, emergency crews are summoned. In the case of 78 year old Bertha Branch, this probably ended up saving her life. Her story was retold in the New York Times.

Branch fell down while getting up in the middle of the night and was unable to get back up. She had left her life alert button elsewhere and had no way to call out for help. The eNeighbor noticed that she had been out of bed for an unusually long period of time in the middle of the night and it alerted someone to call her. When she didn't answer their calls, they knew something was wrong. Emergency crews found her on the floor and brought her to the hospital. When the firefighters broke down her door, she had been on the floor for less than an hour.

Many of these technological gadgets can be expensive and most are not covered by health insurances. The system that Ms. Branch has in place costs about $100 per month. But their benefits outweigh their price. Without the eNeighbor device, Ms. Branch would probably not be able to live on her own. A stay in a nursing home is much more expensive than the monthly cost of one of these sensors, however. This makes her situation much more affordable and comfortable. No one wants to have to leave their home. A health sensor of this sort can prove to be rewarding in all of these respects.

But don't forget the human element. This is something that a computer or a sensor cannot replace. People are social animals, they need companionship. But thanks to overnight monitoring systems, a senior citizen can live in their own home for even longer nowadays. An in home care giving service can visit during the day, and the sensors can observe at night. This way, your elderly relative can benefit in three ways: they will have a human visitor; they will be protected when that visitor is not there, and they can enjoy the comforts of staying in their own home. In this regard, technology has proven to be a good thing.

Matthew G. Young is a freelance writer who specializes in financial, sports, and health-related topics. To learn more about in home health care visit Paradise In Home Care