In Part 1 of this two part series, I focused on medical alarm devices, also known as personal alarms. I’ve made use of these devices for several of my elders so that they could remain in their homes for a longer period of time.
While personal alarms may qualify as the granddaddy of electronic monitoring devices, they are still, in my opinion, one of the most useful. They can be worn as jewelry and are non-intrusive to the elder, so both elder and caregiver can have a sense of security without the elder feeling like he or she is being watched all the time.
Eldercare and New Technology
The New York Times recently ran an article titled, Technologies Help Adult Children Monitor Aging Parents. The article is packed with information about new technology that can theoretically help elders stay in their homes longer because they monitor the movements of the elders.
Most offer tracking by computer. Some use cameras, which I would find very intrusive and I believe many elders would agree. Others use sensors, placed strategically around the house, that let the adult child or other caregiver know about everything in the elder’s life from a missed pill to a fall.
Certainly, this is all useful information. I do believe that if elders and caregivers are okay with this arrangement, there is a chance that the elder can go longer without in-home help or other human caregiving.
To me, however, there is grave danger in taking technology too far. Is a “granny cam” in a nursing home a good idea?
Maybe so.
This is one way abuse can be uncovered. Are cameras and sensors in Mom’s home a good idea? Many times, yes, if agreed to by all parties and used as a double check for human care. That is the caveat, however. Human care is still needed.
In Technology and Elder Care: The Good, the Bad and the Robots? I addressed this issue. Robotic pets are now available to keep elders with Alzheimer’s “company.” There are studies that show this is helpful. Maybe so. However, I’d need some convincing. When I think of a confused and often paranoid elder turning around to find a robotic pet follow him or her, I kind of cringe. However, I’ll give robotic pets the benefit of a doubt.
Actual robots to “wait” on a person? That freaks me out. Yes, there are some available. And yes, I could use one around the house, but I don’t have Alzheimer’s (that I know of). I would be aware that this creature cleaning up my dishes is a programmed machine. I’m not so sure that my mother-in-law, with all of her paranoia about people and things “out there,” would have been comforted by a robot in place of a soothing, human family member or Certified Nursing Assistant.
Again, I’m not negative about robotic advances. But when they are said to be designed to help care for the “onslaught” of boomers who will age and need care, I get rather frightened. I am one of those boomers. Will I be cared for by a robot rather than human touch? Will the world value me so little that no one can take the time to hold my hand? God willing, that won’t be our future.
Bring on the technology as added security and a source for information, but don’t let it replace human care. If that happens, we as a society will have lost our humanity.
Posted in Caregiving, Caring At Home, Technology | No Comments »Tags: elder care, medical devices, Technology
