On Friday, June 22, I attended the 2nd Annual Caregiving Symposium, hosted by the South Florida Institute of Aging (SoFIA). At a particularly interesting session on caregiving technology pioneers, I learned about these new products focused on helping those of us who care for family and friends:
- PAPA – Grandkids On-Demand – College students are available to help older adults with transportation, household help, technology lessons, or just to provide companionship. Especially for seniors who don’t have children or grandchildren who can help, this is a great way to get some extra assistance remaining in your own home.
- Room2Care – Provides a way for seniors to get help while living with a younger person – another wonderful example of an intergenerational program.
- CarePredict – This new wearable device goes far beyond the typical monitor that alerts you after an accident has happened. This product is designed to keep a caregiver aware of their relative’s movement, and to generate alerts when there has been a sudden change in behavior to provide better senior care through predictive analytics.
If you don’t currently have a need for these types of products, remember this quote by Rosalyn Carter about ‘four kinds of people’:
- those who have been caregivers
- those who are currently caregivers
- those who will be caregivers
- those who will need caregivers
These new products are especially worth knowing about since they provide opportunities for older persons to live independently for as long as possible. Thanks to SoFIA for putting together such an informative event.
Here are more reasons for seniors to get tech savvy, featuring additional products and services targeted to senior care.
