Aging-In-Place With New Technology More Seniors Say "No Thanks" To Nursing Homes

By Evan H. Farr, Certified Elder Law Attorney

The Law Firm of Evan H. Farr, PC

. http://www.farrlawfirm.com/

More Legal and Health Articles

Aging-In-Place With New Technology More Seniors Say "No Thanks" To Nursing Homes

“Getting old is not for sissies” goes the quote. Perhaps one of the biggest challenges people face as they age is a seemingly inevitable and impending change in their living situation, whether due to health concerns, financial circumstances, or both.

This feared transition may not be so inevitable after all. With the right plan, seniors can qualify for Medicaid, take advantage of today's latest elder care technologies, and protect the assets, which otherwise could be drained by the catastrophic costs of long-term care.

Most people are familiar with care options such as in-home care, assisted living, and nursing homes. All three of these options have their downsides whether it is the relative expense of staying at home with a 24-hour caregiver, or the emotional and physical upheaval accompanying a move. But now, a fourth option is gaining popularity. Aging-in-place is a care option that allows individuals to continue living independently in their own home without the need for a live-in caregiver.

Drug Compliance Monitoring

Drug compliance is the most common issue for those living alone. For those with memory issues, pill-reminder services and gadgets can provide daily visual and audio alerts to take medication, dispense the correct pills at the right times, and can even send a confirmation message to a caregiver once the medication has been dispensed. If a dosage is missed, an alert is sent to the caregiver and appropriate action can be taken.

Fall Monitoring

Falling is the leading cause of injury and death among those age 65 and older. For those with a high fall risk, monitoring devices like eNeighbor use unobtrusive sensors to monitor a resident's daily routine. If the resident were to fall and not be able to get up or reach the phone for help, the device would trigger a phone call to a list of contacts as well as a 24-hour call center.

Health Monitoring

Remote monitoring is an in-home technology that measures vitals such as heart rate, body weight, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels, making it useful to patients with a variety of health concerns, from cardiovascular disease to diabetes.

If you or a family member is contemplating long-term care options, an experienced elder law attorney can provide solutions to help you, many of which, you may not even know exist.