Medical technology has advanced to the point that anyone can walk around using amazing devices that aid their health. The general population has loads of these tools at their disposal, but senior citizens gain the most from health tech advancements. Below you’ll see a shortlist of the best health tech for seniors – plus some explanations about how they work and why they’re so beneficial.
Fall Detection Devices
It’s no secret that falls are the leading cause of injuries among seniors, and so a fall detection device is one of the best medical devices out there. Essentially, you have a GPS tracker for elderly in case of falls, but this tracker also uses technology that measures forces and can determine if the wearer has fallen or not.
While it doesn’t prevent falls, these devices will send alerts to family members or emergency services so the wearer receives immediate medical attention. It can save lives and reduce the severity of a fall because the individual gets proper help and knows they can stay in one place without risking more pain. The GPS element also makes them easy to find.
Heart Rate Monitors
These days, you can fit a heart rate monitor into a small band that someone wears around their wrist. All smartwatches come equipped with this technology – though they might be too advanced for the average senior. A generic fitness tracker is all they need to monitor things like:
- Heart rate
- Blood oxygen levels
- Heart rate variables
The device tracks and uses this data, looking for any potentially worrying signs. For example, it may detect an irregular heartbeat, which then alerts the wearer and encourages them to seek medical help. These devices do a fantastic job of helping seniors monitor their cardiovascular health and can genuinely prevent serious issues like heart attacks.
Smart Devices
While you may think the concept of a smart device is too complex for seniors, they can be really valuable tools for better health. They’re also not strictly medical technology, yet a smart device enables a senior to do things they otherwise could not. It makes their lives easier – for example, they can ask Alexa to turn on the lights in a room instead of walking over to do it. Smart kitchen appliances can make it easier for them to cook every day, and so on.
Even a simple smartphone can be beneficial for a senior, particularly when you think about their mental health. The ability to call or message friends/family by using your voice instead of relying on manual dexterity is a true life-changer. So, while smart devices don’t seem like they’re very health-related, they’re genuinely very useful for the older generation.
What this post demonstrates is that we’re surrounded by amazing technology that improves our well-being every day. Senior citizens now have access to things and devices that previous generations could only dream of. Perhaps that’s part of the reason people’s life expectancies are always increasing. The bottom line is that it makes sense to empower the elderly people in your life by giving them these great tools.
