By Tina Rowley, R.N., Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) and owner of the Birmingham, Michigan franchises of Home Instead Senior Care.
- As an 80-year-old woman who lives at home alone, I am interested in doing whatever I can to stay here. My grandson has told me that there is technology being developed that can help me do that by letting my family “monitor” me. I’m a very independent person. Would I have to give up some privacy if I accepted these new-fangled ideas?
Your grandson is right. Here are some interesting innovations designed by Georgia Tech College of Computing (http://gtresearchnews.gatech.edu/newsrelease/privacy.htm):
- “Cook’s Collage,” which photographs people during meal preparation and displays the cook’s six most recent actions on a flat-panel display mounted over the countertop. The idea is to prevent distracted chefs from forgetting what actions they’ve already taken. To reduce “Big Brother” appearances, cameras are mounted out of sight and only show the chef’s hands.
- “Digital Family Portrait” helps out-of-town family members keep an eye on aging relatives. A display monitor hangs in the caregiver’s home and displays a static photo of the older relative. The photo is surrounded by a digital-image frame whose icons change daily to reflect information about the older adult’s life, such as general activity level.
- “FaceBot” is a communication device that interacts with other home technologies. It features two cameras for eyes, microphones as ears and a speaker as its mouth. Instead of giving voice commands to an empty room, such as “turn up the temperature,” residents can talk directly to FaceBot.
Researchers at the school invited 44 adults ages 65 to 75 to tour the residential laboratory and view these new age-in-place technologies. Overall the seniors who were surveyed said they didn’t mind giving up some privacy to be able to remain independent, researchers reported. The results of their poll show how important it is for seniors to remain at home. While technology is of value, there is no substitute for human contact. A few hours a week with a Home Instead CAREGiver can keep older adults in their homes longer as well. CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured, and equipped to provide that human touch that technology can’t. CAREGivers are even matched with seniors to share their same interests and hobbies. Services are provided from a few hours a week up to 24 hours a day—including weekends and holidays.
—Editor’s Note: This is a continuation in a series which helps to promote health, welfare, and advocacy for our senior population. Bert Copple, Community Servive Representative, can be reached via cell at 248-904-8455.
