There is no industry or sector of the population that technology hasn’t made a huge impact on these days.
And ‘later life’ has probably benefited more than many others thanks to the fact there is often more need of help. Certainly, the onus these days is for people to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.
In many ways, technology is helping them to do this. Whether it’s pill boxes that monitor medication, bed sensors to check quality of sleep or a device that monitors every time you walk out the door – technology is quite literally all around us.
In this article we’ll look at three such technological innovations that are getting a lot of attention – wearables, smart homes and telehealth. We’ll then go on to discuss their pros and cons.
Wearables
Wearable health monitoring devices have grown in number and popularity over the past couple of decades in particular. Considered part of the Internet of Things (IoT), these physical objects are embedded with sensors, software and other technologies. These, in turn, connect and exchange data with other devices and systems via the internet or some other communications network.
Used to monitor movement and improve physical health they tend to be unobtrusive and often worn on a continual basis. Think smartwatches, electromyography patches, smart clothing and devices that detect falls.
Pros of using wearables
- Can help you monitor your own health
- Give you more independence ie confidence for living alone
- Reasonably easy to use
- Can contact emergency number if you fall
Cons of using wearables
- May be data security compromises
- Battery charge often short
- Can be expensive to purchase
- Many require use of smartphone too
Smarthomes
Home automation, voiced controlled entertainment and smart devices in general are now pretty much commonplace in many homes. Home Alert systems are a more intrinsic form of these. Sensors are linked to an emergency team, allowing your movements in the home to be monitored.
There are no cameras or voice activated microphones so it’s as unobtrusive as possible. If your usual routine changes it can spark a check by the team to ensure there are no problems ie that you’ve fallen.
Pros of a Smarthome
- Means help will come quickly
- Your family are reassured
- Systems notifies you if there’s a window or door open
- Allows you to live independently
Cons of a Smarthome
- Can prove very expensive to install
- Risk of technology being hacked
- Need good internet wi-fi for it to work
- You can be left helpless if technology fails
Telehealth
Telehealth really came into its own during the pandemic when we were unable to physically visit a doctor’s office. Instead, many of us spoke to him or her via Zoom, FaceTime or some other visual recording device.
It meant we could be diagnosed and prescribed medicine online, without seeing our GP in person. For many GP practices this system has continued, due to a shortfall of doctors. But that’s not the only reason.
Accessing your GP online and filling in a repeat prescription form, booking an appointment or using a device to monitor your own health from home and sending the results to your GP, is also more efficient for surgeries. And many patients too.
Pros of Telehealth
- Can visit your GP from the comfort of your sofa
- Less stressful having to navigate traffic to get to surgery
- No parking charges or bus fares to pay
- Appointments don’t take up the whole morning (ie not having to get there and back)
Cons of Telehealth
- Harder to build a rapport with a GP online
- More difficult to have a physical examination
- Software may be confusing or break down
- Data security risks
If you’d like more advice about how technology could help you to live more independently then why not give the team here at Grey Matters a call? You can call us on 01628 947066 or, if you prefer, email via info@grey-matters-consultancy.com
