Passive Monitoring to Catch Early Stage Health Issues in Older Adults by John Patton, MS Applied Gerontology

The older we get, the more likely we are to have health problems, especially ones that are related to chronic diseases like diabetes and heart conditions. The National Council on Aging suggests that eighty percent of adults 65 and older have at least one chronic condition, while 68% have two or more (NCOA.org, 2021). One of the most important things to do as an older adult is to stay on top of issues to avoid painful problems down the road. Fortunately, there are certain technologies available that can help identify small issues before they become big ones – all without having to go to the doctor’s office or to the local hospital every time you feel ill! Read on to learn more about passive monitoring and how it can help you and your loved one or your client.

Many older adults do not go to the doctor and get properly diagnosed. There are many reasons for this, including fear and the lack of comfort from trained medical professionals that understand older adults’ needs. The Association of American Medical Colleges cites that “An aging population requires more complex care and thus greater reliance on specialized care,” (AAMC, 2021). Even with a diagnosed chronic condition, older adults can get sick very quickly as they may not be used to being ill. As such, early diagnosis is very important. One of the best ways for older adults to catch early signs of illness is through passive monitoring. The data captured from passive monitoring serves as a basis for what is deemed normal ADLs (activities of daily living) for that particular person and provides alerts for possible health concerns should these patterns change. StackCare’s passive monitoring system was designed to recognize daily habits and detect any changes that might indicate health issues.

Silent health issues can also occur as we age. and being ‘silent’ these problems may not be as visible as other health conditions, but they can lead to severe issues if not diagnosed promptly and treated properly. Common silent health problems include memory loss, sleep disorders, depression, and vision loss. StackCare’s passive monitoring can assist family members and caregivers with alerts that the ADLs of an older adult have changed and a medical check-up may be necessary.

So how does passive monitoring help with identifying possible changes in a person’s health? Passive monitoring is a term used to describe the use of data and analyzing of that data in real-time to identify any number of conditions and is used to help detect early-stage problems and health concerns. One key advantage passive monitoring has over active testing is that it can save patients, caregivers, and family members time and money by reducing repeated trips or multiple follow-up appointments at the doctor. Another advantage is that when there are no visible symptoms, it can be difficult for older adults and caregivers to know when there is an issue worth addressing. With StackCare’s passive monitoring, alerts are triggered to suggest that there may be an underlying concern and warrants further attention.

Successful aging in place can come with challenges. Everyone (not just caregivers) benefits from knowing about passive monitoring systems and how they can complement the care of an older adult. Because older adults living at home for an extended period are prone to accidents and health issues, it’s important for them (and their loved ones) to know about passive monitoring solutions and how data can support a care network. Without monitoring technology, it is very difficult (if not impossible) for caregivers or relatives to be notified of serious issues or changes in ADLs or even a possible fall —all in real-time. Without proper care there is a greater likelihood that these conditions may go undetected until too late, which can possibly cause irreparable damage. StackCare brings state-of-the-art technology to families and caregivers around the world and provides peace of mind through non-invasive monitoring and artificial intelligence.

If you wish to find out more about StackCare’s sophisticated passive monitoring system, please go to our website www.stack.care or contact us at info@stack.care.

https://www.ncoa.org/article/the-top-10-most-common-chronic-conditions-in-older-adults

https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/aging-patients-and-doctors-drive-nation-s-physician-shortage

Elaine's Story - A Senior's Perspective

Elaine… An impressive 83 years old!

I lost my husband seven years ago which was a massive blow after 49 years of marriage. We all dread losing our partner and there’s always the worry about how you will manage on your own. After Derek passed I moved homes twice, downsizing, before settling on the cozy apartment I live in now.

I’ve recently turned 83 but I feel lucky that I am relatively healthy, though I do suffer a bit from arthritis. I like to stay active and prior to COVID-19 I was out and about most days, keeping myself busy, enjoying my independence and settling into my new home. My son Rod and I are very close and we speak most days - he lives more than an hour away and it’s good to catch up with him and hear his news.

He always wants to hear how I’m getting on and to know that I’m safe and well – I know he frets about me! When I moved into my new apartment, which is on the first floor of the building, we had a stair-lift fitted as well as an emergency call button system that operates via my telephone. Knowing I have them is really reassuring but when we heard about StackCare we were interested to know if it could offer us something else that would give us even more peace of mind. The key for us was seeing that StackCare would send Rod daily updates on how I’ve been getting along. We loved this feature in particular so we decided to give StackCare a go.

We were both surprised at how easy the installation of the StackCare system was – and how discreet it is in my apartment. I barely notice it’s there and I certainly don’t feel like I’m being spied on! It’s amazing – 100% marvelous – and I am so pleased we have it. For me, alongside my call button, I feel that StackCare is part of my safety ‘package’ – like with ill health when you blend different medicines to make you feel better, this is part of my day-to-day multi-pronged approach to staying safe and living my independent life.

I feel really reassured that Rod doesn’t have to worry – he’s a busy, successful businessman (I’m a very proud Mom!) and I know he’s busy, so the less he worries about me the better. We both know that he will be alerted if something is wrong so he can rest easy if he doesn’t hear anything. We laugh that StackCare has also given us a new topic of conversation on our calls! We like talking about what StackCare has been reporting and how I’ve been – I don’t have to try and remember everything to tell him.

I love my new apartment and I love having StackCare help look after me – it’s reassuring for me and I know it’s really reassuring for Rod. And if my son is happy then so am I!

Elaine kindly gave StackCare permission to reproduce her story. As we publish this, she is doing great and enjoying life and her continuing independence.

Grandma Dorothy

We recently heard from one of our customers the story of how his grandmother felt dizzy one night and, doing the absolute right thing, she leaned against the wall and slid down to the floor avoiding any injury. Dorothy wouldn't call her grandson in the middle of the night but, extraordinarily, she was also in a room away from the StackCare sensors. Fortunately Dorothy was fine and all was well but her story set us thinking...

What if we created a 'Night Activity Monitor' to let Dorothy's family know she hadn't made it to bed that night? StackCare data scientists and engineers got to work and we're delighted to announce that our new software release contains the 'Night Activity Monitor' which will send a notification when your senior loved one is absent from the bedroom for too long during the night. StackCare will send the notification regardless of whether someone doesn't make it to bed, or if they get up but don't come back. We'll shortly be releasing another enhancement which will allow you, the family member or caregiver, to customize the time limits.

For Dorothy and her grandson, StackCare just got even better. As with all our improvements and new software features, we update everyone's system automatically and at no extra cost; we'll be rolling out this feature over the next 2 weeks.

Nathalie de Vazeille
Sales & Marketing Manager - StackCare