Aging in the Right Place: Technology will play a big role in the future of aging

For the first time in U.S. history, older adults are projected to outnumber kids by 2034, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

There’s an annual convention in Las Vegas every year that gives us a glimpse into the future.

The Consumer Electronics Show is the largest consumer technology event in the United States. It features Fortune 500 technology brands and startups from across the globe showcasing their latest innovations and products from smart homes to gaming, television to virtual reality, and much more.

Over the last couple of years, a new topic has emerged as a theme at CES: how technology can help us age in place.

Because as much as technology will play a role in our future, so too will older adults. For the first time in U.S. history, older adults are projected to outnumber children by 2034, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Because of this, the caregiver gap is expected to widen, with fewer family members available to provide everyday assistance to aging loved ones, according to AARP. As technology gets better and we get older, it may come to serve an essential role in filling some of these gaps.

Enter something like Electronic Caregiver.

Electronic Caregiver is a home health support system that uses technology to monitor clients and provide support between caregiver visits by using telehealth and virtual care to remind clients to take medications, give them access to physicians, connect them to their caregivers, and provide 24/7 emergency response.

“It takes a village to help adults age gracefully within their own homes, and we want to be a small part of that procedure,” said Beth Stager, a resident of Bradenton and former nurse who partnered with Electronic Caregiver to bring it to the area.

“It’s a technology that we desperately need to try and fill in the gaps of chronically ill patients or anyone who needs to be monitored and supported with preventative health care instead of episodic. Our goal is to change that mindset of giving into the habit of more protective measures in case of an emergency and being proactive — and technology can play a huge role in that,” said Stager.

Electronic Caregiver does this in three main ways: as a wrist pendant with a medical concern button, a pocketMD service that gives patients access to a physician at the touch of a button, and a FamilyCare app that allows caregivers to keep track of them.

The wrist pendant’s medical concern button connects users via two-way voice communication with Emergency Medical Dispatch Operators — clients can press the button at the earliest signs of concerns, day or night, which can help them stay on top of any trouble.

The pocketMD is a 24/7 service accessible from the mini controller or mobile phone that, with the press of a button, will make an immediate connection with an on-demand facilitator who will contact a physician on your behalf. Prescriptions can be sent to a preferred pharmacy using this method as quickly as within 15 minutes, according to the company.

The FamilyCare app is available for family and professional caregivers on iPhone or Android mobile devices. It allows messages to be sent directly to the client’s Electronic Caregiver system, allowing caregivers to receive important notifications to help monitor clients and improve the quality of care.

And this type of technology is getting better.

One of the products that helped usher in the wave of aging in place technology at CES in 2019 was a voice-activated and tablet-based Virtual Caregiver named Addison that’s expected to come later this year.

Addison, which is expected to be presented in full for the first time at the 2020 HIMMS Global Health Conference & Exhibition in Orlando, will have the ability to monitor vitals, detect fall risk, provide comprehensive interact support for rehab, manage medication, and offer nutrition support according to Electronic Caregiver.

To learn more about Electronic Caregiver’s technology and services, contact Master Care Partner Beth Stager at 941-321-4024 or bstagerecg@aol.com, or visit electroniccaregiver.com.