The world’s population is at an all-time high at around 7.5 billion and of that number, over a third fall into the age bracket that would classify them as elderly. And with modern
with each passing year, we face an ever-increasing problem of how to care for elderly citizens in a way that keeps them safe and independent.
The good news is that IoT technologies have evolved to such an extent that there are already a number of solutions to the issue and we take a look at just a few of those now.
Maintaining Social Interaction
One of the main issues for the elderly is a lack of social contact and the feelings of isolation that result. As people age, maintaining friendships can become increasingly difficult, which can lead to depression and depreciation of a person’s emotional state. IoT can help with this situation in a variety of ways, chief amongst which is the ability to make quick face to face skype calls one using voice commands.
IoT sensors can also be used to alert relatives when their elderly loved ones have not left the house in a predetermined amount of time, prompting them to pop in and see them when needed.
Minimizing Falls
Another major danger for senior citizens the risk of falling, which can result in bone fractures and subsequent hospitalization. This issue can be addressed using wearable IoT devices that contain accelerometer technology that is so sensitive and intelligent that they can predict if a fall is likely. It does so by analyzing a person’s unsteadiness and correlating with information about their history of falling. Predicting it before it happens can help avoid all the trauma and personal disruption that comes along with taking a tumble.
Managing Medication
When elderly people suffer from cognitive issues like dementia and Alzheimer’s, the administration of medication can become a real problem. Again, IoT provides a solution to the quandary, with devices that can monitor which medication has been taken and when it was taken. If that person then misses medication, it can first alert them, as well as their relatives if it’s missed multiple times.
Medication is often vital to an elderly person’s wellbeing and being able to control it in this way goes a long way to keeping seniors healthy.
In Summary
It’s true to say that caring for an ever-increasing, ageing population is a herculean task, but with IoT, many of the labor-intensive monitoring tasks can be handled affordably and efficiently. As it continues to evolve, IoT technology is likely to play a central part in keeping us healthy and independent as we age.
If you’d like to know more about IoT in the health industry or about Sure Universal’s complete software platform, we recommend that you visit us online at www.sureuniversal.com, where you’ll find lots of helpful information. Ours is the only platform on the market that offers a comprehensive, standard-compliant software solution to all and the optimum interoperability it provides, makes it the best option around.
If after having looked around, you’d like a free, no-obligation consultation about how our products could make your home or office more efficient and easier to maintain, schedule a demo with us and we’ll be in touch as soon as we possibly can.
