Without doubt, technology innovations over the years are making life in easier for many of us, whether that is helping around the home or providing much needed contact with the outside world family and friends through ways to keep in touch.
Many homes now make use of technology to control heating and lighting, to see who is at the door, to draw curtains and turn on our favourite music playlist. If they work in an average home, then it follows that they could be of huge benefit to care at home service providers.
Medical devices & wearable technology
Equipment to measure blood pressure, blood sugar levels and oxygen levels have been around for some time now and certainly help both carers and their client keep a check health wise. However, the advent of more technology, means other devices are now available that can be a huge benefit to a home carer. Pressure mats can notify caregivers when their client has fallen out of bed or with recent progress in acoustic monitoring carers can be notified when their patient is at risk of falling, meaning falls can often be prevented. Carers can also use smart watch technology to help track a dementia sufferer if they have wandered off or to track their vital signs, and it also allows their client to make emergency calls or be guided back to their home address should they need to.
Smart technology
Many of those that choose to be cared for at home do so because they want to retain their independence for as long as possible, or maybe to stay with a partner or pet, and yet they need additional care support offered by a live in carer to help them with day to day chores and care requirements. Devices that allow thermostatic control of heating, drawing of curtains and the ability to see and speak with those who come to your door, turn on or off your lighting or using voice control to make and receive calls, play music can now do so many of the small jobs that would generally fall to carers. Giving back autonomy to the client will remove some of the pressure faced by carers, relieve the carer of some of the mundane duties and give independence back to the client.
If you’re unsure as to how to help your client embrace such technology, Carers UK provide insight into what you could introduce. They also provide tips and tricks you could employ to engage your client with technology and allow them to enjoy learning something new at the same time.
Social contact and memory aids
The ability to interact socially via video calls and social media interaction, allowing meaningful contact with the outside world can be a benefit to both carer and client to help wellbeing. Smart technology can be used by the home carer to help those living with dementia to see photos and engage with multi-sensory equipment such as life like animals to help recollection and provide comfort.
How much technology you choose to employ when providing in home care packages is a matter of personal preference but it’s easy to see that there are a wealth of benefits to be taken advantage of when it comes to elderly care.