Use technology to make living at home safer and easier
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A special thanks to Chris Tyler with At Home 2 Stay. You can call him at 402.510.5626.
Technology can make safe aging in place possible. "Aging in Place” is a broad term that defines living independently – that is, living where a person wants to live. Most of us chose the homes we’ve lived in for years, but that older home was not designed to accommodate the needs of most older people. The adult children, or caregivers, of people who are aging in place often worry if their parents are living as safely as possible.
Home Modifications such as handrails, walk- in or roll- in showers, and grab bars can make homes safer and easier to use. Modifications remove or minimize environmental barriers for people with balance, strength, sensory, or mobility limitations. Simple technology can also be used with structural home modifications to make everyday living safer and easier. For instance, imagine the lights turning on automatically when you get out of bed. That would make moving around the house at night safer for anyone, but would be especially helpful for older individuals. As we age, muscles that control pupil size and reaction to light, lose some strength. Seeing well in dim light becomes harder. In addition, the pupil is less able to adjust to varying light conditions. Gradually increasing light in dark pathways may significantly reduce the risk of falling.
Unless a person is interested in technology for technology’s sake, you need to introduce devices that meet a basic need or that do something that they want to do, if you want to successfully incorporate technology into a person’s routine. It is helpful if the device looks and feels familiar and easy according to Karen Stabiner in the article, “ Elder Tech: What’s Important”. http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/elder-tech-whats-important/
At Home Access Solutions, we help people and their families identify solutions that will enable people to age in place successfully. To augment our design, equipment and remodeling services we work with other specialty companies such as, At Home 2 Stay. We hope you enjoy the interview with Chris Tyler and will either give him or us a call if you want to learn more about harnessing technology for safer and more independent living.
