ASSISTIVE DEVICES THAT MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR SENIORS

If you haven't heard of the term GERONTECHNOLOGY, neither have I till quite recently. It refers to technology and research into products and services designed to improve the quality of life for older adults.

One of the many applications of gerontechnology is the designing of devices and equipment to assist people who face challenges as a result of declining capabilities due to ageing.

Most of the healthcare retailers that I've been to offer the usual items like wheelchairs, commodes, walkers and measuring devices. I have yet to come across devices that help make everyday tasks like dressing and cooking easier for elderly folks, more so if they have poor vision or suffer from stroke, arthritis, Parkinson's or are going through post-surgery rehabilitation.

With more and more young people (that's our children) studying or working away from their hometown, who will be there to care for their parents (that's you and me!) in their old age? Assistive devices will go a long way in providing the support needed for seniors to live independently.

Here are some products that I would love to have on my To-Buy list for my mom.

If you have come across any of these products or know where to buy these items, do contact Seniorsaloud so we can share the information with other seniors who might be interested.

Do drop by at the APHM Healthcare Exhibition at KL Convention Centre this weekend. You might find some assistive products that might be just the item you have been looking for. Click here for more information about the event.

For more on assistive devices and disability products, click on these links:

Disability Products

The Able Studio

Lifeline

Ezzy Riders



PRODUCTS TO HELP SENIORS LIVE INDEPENDENTLY

(Click on the image for an enlargement.)

According to estimates released by the US Census Bureau, by 2050, one in six people in the world will be 65 and above. This is in large due to declining birth rates and medical advances that have extended lifespans.

Already websites offering products and services for seniors have mushroomed over the last decade to cater to the needs of ageing baby boomers. Click on the links below to view some of the elderly-friendly products already in the market.

Elder Gadgets

Senior Friendly Products

Mobility Products and Aids

Independent Care Products

Independent Living Aids

Avalon’s EZC Low Vision One Button Talking Watch.

This beautifully crafted timepiece features a loud female voice that tells time with the push of a button. The watch also features large, contrasting black numbers with bold hands, making it easier to tell time. Just the right gift for grandpa's birthday!

The Tek Pal™ from Hy-Tek

I would love to get this remote control for my mom. I can't think of a simpler design than this for older folks who are confused by too many buttons. The Tek Pal was designed specifically for people with vision problems who need a simple remote that's easy to see and even easier to program.

Here is a look at some of the products that are coming onstream.

GPS shoes for the elderly with AD

Shoe-maker Aetrex Worldwide and a technology company GTX Corp. are teaming up to develop footwear with a built-in GPS device that could help track down "wandering" seniors suffering from Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Sure beats wearing a cow bell!

The Smart Personal Advisor

To give older consumers more real-time, personalized information on such everyday matters as the nutritional content of groceries, MIT's AgeLab has teamed with Procter & Gamble to develop the Smart Personal Advisor. This portable device can be attached to a shopping cart or incorporated into a cell phone or personal digital assistant. It then reads information contained in barcodes and analyzes how the item fits with a senior's personalized dietary needs. Similar technology is already in use in Germany and other countries, and could be adopted in the U.S. in the next five years. This is definitely one gadget I want on my wish list!

The Aware Car

The prototype Aware Car is equipped with warning systems to help control speed and monitor oncoming traffic. It boasts night-vision capabilities, assists with difficult activities like left-hand turns, and tailors airbag deployment and steering wheel placement for smaller-sized drivers and those with osteoporosis. If I had a car like this, I would seriously consider dusting off my driving license and getting behind the wheel again.

Opportunity Knocks

Another product that uses GPS technology is this cell phone or PDA. Developed by Henry Kautz, University of Rochester Computer Science Dept.Kautz, with former colleague Don Patterson, the device helps keep the user from wandering off course during, say, a daily walk through the park. The user's typical commuting patterns is programmed into the system. An alert would be given if the user wanders off into the park in the evening.

The Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) is among the leading players in the race to develop and deploy technologies that can improve the aging experience in America. Established in 2003, CAST has become a national coalition of more than 400 technology companies, aging services organizations, research universities, and government representatives.

In Asia, similar initiatives are underway. One such example is Singapore's Silver Community Test-Bed Programme. The Singapore government offers generous grants to companies that develop products which cater to the elderly.

With all these products and many more coming into the market, seniors can certainly look forward to an active and independent lifestyle in their golden years.