Mom's idea of technology is listening to her favorite radio station…
As wearable technology becomes increasingly prevalent, advertisements promoting FitBits and Apple Watches captivate the attention of younger consumers. These devices promise convenience in tracking health and wellness metrics. However, for seniors who face heightened health risks, a fitness wristband is far from an ideal solution.
"I've fallen and I can't get up!" – the iconic LifeAlert catchphrase still resonates with many. LifeAlert was revolutionary in its time, offering a lifeline to seniors in emergencies with the press of a button. Surprisingly, despite significant technological advances in recent years, seniors and their families continue to rely on this now antiquated technology. Never mind that statistically only about 1-in-7 owners actually wear their pendant daily; and most falls occur at night, so who puts on their pendant before heading to the bathroom at 1.00am?
Apropos falls occurring at night, even in the unlikely event Mom agrees to a baby cam or webcam in her bedroom (and I for one would prefer to retain a little dignity in my senior years), who’s going to stay up watching mom all night?
In a world dominated by cutting-edge innovations such as holograms and motion-activated thermostats, using dated technology for senior care appears almost naive. Passive remote monitoring, a technology employing non-invasive sensors combined with data science, emerges as a superior alternative. It requires no wearables and even surpasses the capabilities of modern fitness trackers. Passive monitoring effectively tracks motion (and lack of motion!), sleep hours, bathroom activity, kitchen activity and more, offering both indication of health and wellness decline and potential fall alerts without requiring seniors to wear or activate any device.
Here are three compelling reasons why passive monitoring outshines wearable technology in senior care both at home and in retirement communities:
Non-Invasiveness of Passive Monitoring
Wearing a conspicuous alert button around one's neck daily not only carries aesthetic drawbacks but also serves as a constant reminder of limited abilities. Such devices can be clunky, burdensome, and uncomfortable for seniors so no surprise that we’ve even heard the pendants called “death jewelry” - Seniors retain their sense of humor, however dark. In contrast, passive monitoring utilizes discreet wall-mounted devices, adhering to the "set it and forget it" principle that defines successful cutting-edge technology. It empowers seniors to relish their quality of life without fostering a perceived dependence on caregivers.
The Reliability Advantage of Passive Monitoring
Remembering to grab your house keys before leaving home is a challenge in itself, let alone ensuring the consistent wear of unfamiliar technology. In life-threatening situations, it is crucial for the device to be reliable, rather than a wristband or necklace that can easily slip off, break upon falling, or become damaged in the shower. Furthermore, if a person is rendered unconscious or injured due to a fall or health event, wearable technology becomes ineffectual. Passive monitoring, conversely, utilizes technology integrated within a senior's home, eliminating the need for seniors to keep track of a device that could be easily lost or forgotten.
Proactive vs. Reactive: The Passive Monitoring Advantage
Wearable alert systems primarily operate reactively, responding to events after they occur. In contrast, passive monitoring takes a dual approach by not only notifying caregivers after an incident but also proactively highlighting deteriorating patterns to prevent such incidents from happening in the first place. By continuously monitoring indicators such as bathroom usage, sleep hours, activity patterns and kitchen usage, passive monitoring can detect changes that indicate an impending emergency. Timely medical intervention not only leads to better outcomes but can even potentially avert major health crises.
In conclusion, while wearable technology undoubtedly still holds a place in the tech world, seniors benefit immensely from the efficiency and reliability of passive monitoring. By eliminating the need for wearables, this technology proves itself as a far more effective solution for senior care, helping to safeguard the well-being of older adults.