Seniors: Imagine a more independent future with the help of nifty gadgets

"Transforming an Aging Nation," by CAST

The hardest thing for seniors and their caregivers is the push and pull of independence.  How much independence to allow before a senior’s health and safety can be potentially compromised?

Here is where gadgets can make a difference. No longer just for youngsters and spring chickens, high tech gizmos have the potential to make a world of difference in the lives of senior citizens.

Some organizations, such as The Center for Aging Technologies (CAST), are devoted to determining just how technology can improve the lives of seniors. According to its website, the international coalition of more than 400 technology companies, government representatives, aging services organizations, and research universities is “leading the charge to expedite the development, evaluation and adoption of emerging technologies that can improve the aging experience.”

The coalition has produced a video called “Imagine the Future of Aging.” This short video (and this longer version) show how emerging technology has the power to give a “caregiver network” of family and medical personnel enough support and information to help a senior maintain his independence.

The coalition runs pilot studies that focus on developing technologies with the potential to maximize seniors’ independence and improve care. Such technologies include telehealth, monitoring and medication dispensing systems, and electronic or personal health records, all of which are shown in the video clip. Among the gadgets profiled are a watch that alerts when seniors when it’s time to take their medication, and a monitor that keeps tabs on daily activity and health that the network can access.

A myriad of gadgets is on the horizon to provide a senior his/her independence and the family some peace of mind. Because for a senior, a gadget that assures health and safety is the coolest gizmo of all.