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With more and more seniors looking for ways to stay active and connected, it’s clear that the future of senior living lies in technology. Communities offering residents the latest amenities and services will be the most successful in attracting and retaining residents.
With new technology in senior living already making waves across such communities, how future tech will transform the senior living community and help its residents achieve a better, smoother lifestyle is the question.
Let us take a glance at how the use of technology in senior living is about to transform the industry outlook for the better.
How technology will transform senior living prospects?
In the next few years, the USA is about to witness a major renovation in how senior living communities are structured and operated. Technology will play a central role in this transformation, making communities more efficient, practical, and comfortable for residents and staff.
Many communities still rely on paper-based methods to document attendance, keep track of medication regimens, and organize events. This is cumbersome and needs to allow staff to maximize their impact on residents. Digital engagement and communication platforms offer a solution; they streamline daily processes, freeing up staff workloads. Automation lets them shift their focus to more labor-intensive tasks, such as administering medication or leading a tai chi class. Additionally, these platforms allow for self-service functions like auto-populating contact lists and simple clicks for safety and wellness check-ins.
Top senior living technologies for the future
Technology is at the forefront of its game today. As rapidly as the times are progressing, so is technology. It is almost becoming a race to catch up with innovation. Listed below is what we could witness as a more advanced version of our current preexisting technology.
Remote home monitor and remote sensors
Motion sensors are increasingly becoming a required device in senior living homes. And without a doubt, it should have to be. These non-intrusive device structures can monitor a resident’s physical movement and improve their well-being.
Using RFID technology in senior living helps caregivers be active in response time should an accident occur. Remote home monitors and motion sensors actively alert staff and help them assess a resident’s situation for better support.
GPS devices
A helpful technology that is growing in popularity in senior care is GPS tracking devices for the elderly. This is the best way to keep track of your dear ones and patients while ensuring that they are safe, particularly if they tend to get lost easily. This is helpful in the case of patients with dementia. There are a few different GPS tracking machines on the market. But this form of tech is definitely on the rise and forefront of being adapted to be even better.
Virtual reality tours
Travel may become expensive in the future, but seniors should still enjoy the world’s wonders. With the innovation and introduction of virtual reality, seniors can take advantage of such technology and go on tours from the comfort of their new homes.
Virtual reality tours can be made exclusively to cater to the different types of senior living communities based on their specific requirements and choice of leisure. It helps lessen travel strain while amplifying the real thing’s near-perfect experience. Virtual tours could grow to become one of the most popular senior living technology trends in the respective sector.
Mobile application for medical care
Mobile apps are the trend and limelight of smartphones. These apps can be crucial for baby boomers in the senior living sector, and the next generation of seniors live the line between safety and activeness. Several mobile apps on the marketplace are created with the sole purpose of servicing this industry. These apps can help track daily activity, monitor vitals, and provide relevant information on the go. Current mobile well-being apps include Apple Health, Google Fit, and My Fitness Pal.
Smart home automated systems
As the older generations start to embrace technology, voice-activated innovative home systems are becoming valuable tools for senior citizens. With options like Amazon’s “Hey Alexa” and other similar systems, seniors can enjoy a greater sense of control and independence through just speaking commands. Furthermore, devices such as Wi-Fi-enabled lighting dimmers allow seniors to access critical devices easily. These tools can help improve the quality of life for seniors in senior living homes, increase their safety, and promote independence.
Virtual reality for seniors
Technology is quickly becoming integral to senior living homes and will continue to be in the upcoming decade. Like virtual tours, VR for activities and social engagement for seniors will be on the rise. Not only can automated VR events help engage residents in activities while being aptly monitored, but it also frees up the time slots of caregivers, so they can focus on other areas of senior care administration for residents who require it.
Augmented reality for senior
Like VR, augmented reality is where you are in control. For seniors, AR device technology can help provide a wide range of benefits. For example, it could profoundly improve communication, especially with the outside world or dear ones, and at the same time, promote a sense of social interaction between other residents of senior living. Furthermore, it can help with other facilities, like attending virtual seminars regarding wellness.
Digitized caretakers for seniors
As we move into a new period, technology will continue to play a pivotal role in any senior living community. By the next few years, BoomersHub predicts that tech-savvy caretakers and caregivers will be one of the most popular forms of senior care.
Digital caretakers can be in the form of virtual assistants that help the elderly in senior living communities with their everyday tasks. For example, they can provide reminders for timely medication, daily or essential appointments, help with meal intake, and other relevant support while answering questions or concerns the seniors will have —this allows for digitized caretakers to remotely spend time with seniors as well.
Digital caregivers and communities are one of the best ways to increase senior resident engagement. It helps keep the boomers connected to their loved ones, providing them with a sense of security and serenity.
List of companies with innovative tech for senior living
VitalTech
VitalTech is an established cloud-based platform. Under their banner, VitalBand was launched in 2018, as an emergency voice call-out and fall-detection watch, with sensors that provide a more indirect way to monitor reactions.
Neuro Rehab VR
By putting on the headset, Neuro Rehab VR helps people, mainly seniors, by giving them a virtual reality experience to undergo physical therapy following a brain injury, stroke, or any other kind of neurodegenerative disease. Neuro Rehab is customized to create virtual therapy exercises while recording physiological and kinematic reactions and, at the same time, quantifying the development of the patient with metrics that can help medical professionals or caregivers.
Intuition Robotics
Founded in 2016, the purpose of Intuition Robotics is to combat loneliness. Their practical, cognitive artificial intelligence (AI) product can start conversations to help the senior person stay in touch with family or loved ones. It can also help engage them in healthy behaviors, provide a timely push to take medication, and also help connect them to the outside world.
Several more companies are working towards establishing innovative and future technology in senior living communities. In addition, it is expected that even more tech companies will begin to boom to create technologies that aid senior retirees looking for memory care or assisted living facilities.
To learn more about these companies, visit here.
Additional benefits of senior living technology
Innovative home technology is a handy tool for optimizing staff time, as well as cutting down on energy costs. By using voice commands or tapping a mobile device, residents can quickly control the lights, fans, and air conditioning in their living areas– instead of relying on your staff.
Not only does this save time for senior care facility employees, but it also promotes resident autonomy and independence by allowing them to age in place in their own homes with ease. In addition, such technologies enable your staff to focus more on the specifics of a task rather than the mundane aspects like turning off lights and adjusting thermostat settings.
Final thoughts
New technology in senior living will allow for greater automation of the industry. Such technology will enable senior care communities like memory care, assisted and independent living to provide more adapted and effective care to their residents.
Furthermore, the technology trends in senior living communities will continue to upgrade and adapt as per industry requirements. It just becomes an exciting afterthought of the kinds of unseen tech that is yet to come and grace senior living communities.
Leave a comment with your thoughts regarding the future of technology trends in senior living. You can also read our article on the needs of the next generation of seniors in such communities.
FAQs
How is technology changing senior care?
Technology is being adapted to change the face of senior care by bringing a smooth operational transition to meet the rising demand and shift of an ever-changing world. New kinds of technology are helping residents, caretakers, and administrative staff.
What should you look for in a senior living community?
When looking for a senior living community, one of the main things considered is how well it can help you adjust and the facilities they are providing. On top of assessing how much it costs and the community’s location, it is pivotal that a senior care community has an atmosphere that can help you quickly settle in without worry.
How can technology help improve elder care?
Senior living technology can help elder care in numerous ways, from aiding in daily living assistance to supporting caregivers who eliminate menial-level tasks, so they can better focus on seniors. Already, there are a number of tech gadgets that help elders make their life easier —for example, voice-command devices like Amazon’s Alexa.
What innovations could help people who are elderly?
Specific innovations that help within the shower could be beneficial, as older adults are more prone to bathroom-related accidents, which can be disastrous. Safe and motorized wheelchairs and smart walking devices can also be of great support.
