Technological advances in elder care help older Americans live more independently

This past month, advances in “high tech” senior living were, for the first time ever, showcased at the International Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas.  Such advances are being designed to enable older Americans to remain living on their own, instead of in nursing homes.  

Among the advancements on display were tiny motion sensors that detect movement. When embedded in a home or an apartment, the sensors can track movement – for example, excessive movement during the night that could indicate some kind of health issue. Caregivers and researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia are studying data collected from 15 residents at the University’s Tiger Place apartment complex to see if changes in behavior could indicate a medical problem.

For one woman – Eva Olweean – tiny sensors in her bathroom and inside her mattress showed that she was having more restless nights than normal. Her nurses determined that she was experiencing excessive bloating, a common symptom of congestive heart failure. With diuretics and other adjustments to her medication, Ms. Olweean began sleeping soundly again.

  “We try to identify when those small problems occur, so that we can fix them before they come big problems,” notes Marjoie Skubic, an electrical and computer engineering professor who works with the Sinclair School of Nursing researchers. Unlike medical alert badges worn by seniors, motion sensors are not dependent upon the patient cooperating. “Our intent is to incorporate the technology so that it becomes invisible to their daily lives,” says University of Missouri nursing professor Marilyn Rantz. Moreover, such technology may play a significant part in delaying the need for seniors to move into a nursing home, potentially improving their quality of life while reducing healthcare costs.

 “Talking” pill boxes were also on display, reminding seniors to take their medications at proper intervals. Technology companies have even developed robotic companion pets to keep seniors company.  

News Release: High-tech sensors help seniors live independently www.yahoonews.com January 23, 2009