Living Well Blog » Aging in Place

Products that Make Independent Living Safer and Easier, One Room at a Time

Doris Bersing — Tue, 22 May 2012 22:19:51 +0000

by Noelle Buhidar, The RetailMeNot Insider

It goes without saying that as we age, our needs change. Suddenly, it’s not so simple to reach up and grab that book from the top shelf, and even the once mundane task of showering is a difficult and dangerous chore. But leaving home for a nursing facility takes its toll, both emotionally and financially.

The average annual cost of nursing home care in 2011 was $86,040. Hiring in-home assistance is cheaper—but still not ideal—with annual fees averaging $38,000. But is it possible for seniors to maintain independence without completely surrendering themselves to someone else’s care? Yes. It just takes some determination and room-by-room modifications.

See some helpful products and suggestions

The Future of Safety and Health Monitoring: Remote patient monitoring market to hit $295M by 2015

Doris Bersing — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:46:41 +0000

By Alicia Caramenico
New research from Frost & Sullivan predicts that remote patient monitoring will continue to play a significant role in transforming healthcare. In fact, it says the market for remote monitoring technology, especially for home healthcare and disease management, will soar to $294.9 million by 2015.

As the market continues to grow at double-digit rates, the research expects telemedicine to shift away from traditional services toward more consumer-focused products.

Such predictions are reinforced by recent research from Berg Insight, which estimates that globally, 2.2 million patients use remote monitoring services. According to findings released last month, the number of home monitoring systems with integrated communication capabilities will jump to 4.9 million connections worldwide by 2016.

Costs for Adapting a Home for Senior Living, Disabilities or an Illness

Doris Bersing — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:08:00 +0000

By Marc Mendelsohn, Sageing in Place

Statistics show that most people would do almost anything reasonable to avoid moving from the comfort of their home yet in many cases their homes are not adapted to accommodate their current and changing needs. The question arises as to what is necessary and the associated costs to make the modifications to enable an individual to continue living safely and as independently as possible in their homes. Read more

Eldercare Robots Ready to Help Tend to Needs of Aging Population

Doris Bersing — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 23:26:24 +0000

James Vlahos/The Daily

In an article in The Daily by James Vlahos, we learn that the elder-friendly robots are here to engage and to help burnout caregivers. Vlahos says: “…Robots may be our best option to pick up the slack — or so say the pioneers of eldercare robotics, which is being pursued by corporations from Toyota to NEC as well as university robotic labs worldwide…”

Read Part 1

Read Part 2

Keeping People Aging in Place: Safe at Home

Doris Bersing — Tue, 31 May 2011 23:44:36 +0000

If you have an elderly parent, chances are you’ve spent more than one sleepless night worrying about such things. Thankfully, the past few years have seen a boom in technical innovations that can prolong their independence and help you to be a more effective caregiver, even from afar.

They include automatic activity sensors, smart pillboxes, and communicators that share health data with you or a medical pro. These gizmos (and the monitoring services that typically come with them) can be pricey, ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand a year – and neither Medicare nor most private health insurers typically cover them (though some will if they’re prescribed by a doctor).

GrandCare Systems Aging in Place Webinars

Doris Bersing — Sat, 14 May 2011 17:35:36 +0000

Living Well partner GrandCare Systems is a complete communication and monitoring system for active, independent seniors and those who care for them. View a tour of the interactive system here.

GrandCare Systems hosts aging/technology webinars on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month:

2 pm EST · 1pm CST

12pm MST · 11am PST

http://grandcaresystems.webex.com

How to Help Retirees Stay in Their Homes

Doris Bersing — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:24:58 +0000

Helping people stay in their homes as they age has been a formal, if poorly understood, goal of U.S. aging policy for some time. Experts say it’s far cheaper than housing seniors in nursing homes and other institutions. And public surveys find that it’s also the overwhelming preference of 9 out of 10 seniors.

As much as we want to age in our own homes, however, the network of government, volunteer, and family caregiving resources needed to support older Americans is able to meet only a fraction of the elder population’s needs. And with soaring numbers of older Americans, coupled with stressed government and philanthropic budgets, the scale of unmet needs is likely to rise sharply.
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The Home Care Environment for Clients With Advanced ALS: Home Care of a Person With ALS

Doris Bersing — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:22:13 +0000

What makes physical care so challenging in advanced ALS is the absence of other indicators of change — the verbal and physical response to care. The physical changes are much more subtle, and the nurse is more likely to detect changes when there is a connection with the patient that allows a rhythm to unfold. Daily inspections included in the assessment are crucial if potential problems are to be avoided. Particular challenges of patients with ALS who are locked-in follow. It is important to provide a blueprint for supplies in establishing and maintaining a safe home care environment.
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“IF I ever need to go to a nursing home, kill me first”

Doris Bersing — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 17:35:13 +0000

Aging in Place: You do not need to leave your home!

Given that 89% of people do not want to leave their homes, this statement featured on the article The Technology for Monitoring Elderly Relatives on The New York Times (July 28, 2010) about new technologies to help people stay at their home, makes total sense.

The purpose of many of these technologies is to provide enough supervision to make it possible for elderly people to stay in their homes rather than move to an assisted-living facility or nursing home — a goal almost universally embraced as both emotionally and financially desirable.

Simple Ways to Protect Yourself at Home

Doris Bersing — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 19:24:22 +0000

Each year, many older Americans are injured in and around their homes. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that in 1981, over 622,000 people over age 65 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with products they live with and use everyday.

CPSC believes that many of these injuries result from hazards that are easy to overlook, but also easy to fix. By spotting these hazards and taking some simple steps to correct them, many injuries might be prevented. Read More and complete the CPSC check list.

In addition, please use the following checklist to make sure your home is safe. These simple, inexpensive home modifications can make life much safer for you and your family members. View Checklist.