Home Health-Medicare Requirements

Technology is Helping Family Members Make Better Care Decisions for their Loved Ones

It’s an age-old problem. Mom lives alone and her adult children are concerned about whether she’s doing okay by herself. Mom says she’s doing fine. But would she really tell us if she started having trouble getting around the house, or was slowly becoming confused about her daily routine? Unfortunately, the statistics tell us that these changes often occur without family members knowing, and the result can be serious. Mom may end up in the hospital before anyone truly realized the risks she was facing while living alone. Falls, lack of nutrition, medication errors, or urinary tract infections are common risks that can cause hospitalizations and a downward trend in mom’s quality of life. The good news is that technology is playing an increasingly helpful role in allowing care providers and family members to better understand when a senior living alone may be facing these risks. Proactive steps can then be taken before the risks lead to serious problems. The different technologies vary in the way they collect information, but many of them strive to achieve a similar benefit. They collect data on a 24/7 basis to establish a baseline for normal activity. Once the baseline is established, data collected can be reviewed regularly to ensure the senior has not declined in specific high-risk areas. If there is a sudden event causing distress, such as a fall or someone calling out for help, these technologies can often detect these events and immediately send alerts to care providers. But the more common way these systems can help families is by identifying changes in activity data over time. In these cases, negative trends can be recognized and family members can take a proactive approach to keep them safe before an adverse event occurs.

So how is this data collected on a 24/7 basis? Three primary technologies have emerged in this space: wearables, motion sensors, and audio sensors. With wearables, activity and motion levels are typically detected through a wrist device. While with motion and audio sensors, movement and sound are detected by devices placed in strategic locations within a home.

Regardless of the specific technology device used, the data collected by the device is constantly evaluated by a computer utilizing artificial intelligence to quickly learn what is normal for the senior living alone and when changes have occurred. While some older adults may feel their privacy is at risk by using such devices, many ultimately learn that technology allows them to live more independently. Technology will never replace the human element in providing care, but used properly it can be a valuable addition to a safe care plan.

At Home Care & Health

Article provided by: Home Matters Caregiving 503-352-5634 www.HomeMattersCaregiving.com

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Depression is Not a Normal Part of Aging

Senior adults are often at an increased risk for experiencing depression, which is a real and treatable condition like high blood pressure or thyroid disease. However, depression does not have to be a normal part of the aging process if you understand the underlying causes and available remedies. Approximately 80% of seniors have one or more serious health conditions, which has been found to be the number one contributor to depression. The second major contributor is when their mobility becomes limited causing further isolation from family and friends. Additionally, many senior adults are either misdiagnosed or go without any treatment because they don’t know their options whereby, they could easily feel much better. The first step is to enlist a family member or trusted in-home care agency to accompany your loved one to their health care provider and to advocate on their behalf for proper diagnosis and treatment. Once a treatment plan is prescribed, it is imperative to establish a continuum of care that adjusts to your loved ones’ needs to help them continue to thrive at home. Whether it’s a family member, friend, or a professional caregiver who works at a licensed agency, knowing you have someone you can trust, who treats your loved one like family and through kindness, establishes a real relationship with them, will lessen the potential for depression or unhappiness. The Right Caregiver...  Is a warm and loving companion  Prepares balanced meals ensuring proper nutrition  Provides medication reminders  Oversees daily exercise  Maintains a tidy and safe home environment  Accompanies your loved one to medical appointments and shopping  Ensures they have their personal care needs met With proper diagnosis and a proactive care plan, you can ensure your loved one can continue to age happily in their home – because there’s no place like home!

At Home Care & Health

Article provided by: Synergy HomeCare 503-303-8388, 360-891-1506 www.SynergyHomeCare.com

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