originally appeared in the NY Times, February 13, 2009
Increasingly, many older people who live alone are not truly alone. They are being watched by a flurry of new technologies designed to enable them to live independently and avoid expensive trips to the emergency room or nursing homes.
Bertha Branch, 78, discovered the power of a system called eNeighbor when she fell to the floor of her Philadelphia apartment late one night without her emergency alert pendant and could not phone for help.
A wireless sensor under Ms. Branch’s bed detected that she had gotten up. Motion detectors in her bedroom and bathroom registered that she had not left the area in her usual pattern and relayed that information to a central monitoring system, prompting a call to her telephone to ask if she was all right. When she did not answer, that incited more calls — to a neighbor, to the building manager and finally to 911, which dispatched firefighters to break through her door. She had been on the floor less than an hour when they arrived. (more…)
A nice short video on Assisted Living and what it is that makes it so special. When my mother and father moved into assisted living I was envious of the gentle care and attention they were given. It may not always feel good to leave a home we have lived in our entire lives but given the right assisted living center or assisted living home, our changing needs will be met with compassion and support.
When most of us think of video game fans, the first image that comes to mind is that of a zombie-eyed teen clutching his game controller. Think again! According to The Huffington Post, 47 percent of all casual game players are 50 or older, and nearly 20 percent are 60 or older. The hottest game console among the older set is the Ninentendo Wii. Imagine being able to play a spirited game of tennis sitting in a wheelchair, playing a 18 holes of golf or joining a virtual bowling league right in the lounge of your assisted living facility. More and more seniors are discovering the exciting world of virtual entertainment and an increasing number of facilities are now providing the Wii as a standard amenity for their residents. One group of Erickson communities has even started an inter-facility championship. Watch the video and see for yourself how they have tranformed a casual pasttime into a memorable competition. Forget those polite games of lawn bowling - these bowlers are SERIOUS!!!
The many options available for Senior Housing can be confusing, so we spoke to Karen Barno, President of the Arizona Chapter of ALFA (Assisted Living Federation of America) about the many choices available.
Karen talks in depth about the different types of housing, the different levels of care, cost structures and how to tour intelligently. If you are considering a move for yourself or a loved one, this episode a a must!
For more information about ALFA and how it can assist you with information about Senior Housing options, visit ALFA Arizona’s website at http://www.azalfa.org/
In almost every newspaper everyday we read about the explosion of the baby boomers. We also read the statistic which says if given the choice as we grow older 87% of people say they want to remain in their own home.
I am 100% pro home care yet being in the senior care industry tells me a different story. There is a growing shortage of caregivers in the United States. If there is a shortage now is anyone being realistic that the caregiver shortage will only get worse as the baby boomers come into being? What will the answer be? (more…)
Get ready for our roving reporters, Sam and Sadie Silver, as they span the globe looking for interesting and fun senior news!
