Smart tech provides seniors with added safety while preserving their independence
When John’s friend Irene* fell in her home, it took her an hour to crawl to the phone and call for help. And once she’d recovered, the big question was: What do we do now?
Like many older people, Irene wanted to continue living independently, in the home that she loved. But John was worried. What if she fell again? And what if, this time, she couldn’t reach the phone?
His initial idea was to get her a fall detection necklace, as-seen-on TV commercials in the late ‘90s and early aughts. But Irene is a proud woman and she hated the idea of wearing a visible object that immediately identified her as “old,” even if it could potentially save her life.
Modern tech solutions for today's seniors
Luckily, we’re not in the late ‘90s and early aughts anymore; there are options beyond “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”. John did a little research and realized that the Apple Watch has built-in fall detection. And while it requires an iPhone — which Irene didn’t have — in order for it to work, he felt like the investment was worth his loved one’s safety. He even realized, when he was setting both up for Irene, that he liked them enough to buy two for himself.
For Irene, the difference between a fall detection necklace and an Apple Watch with fall detection was huge. Instead of feeling like an old lady whose body was betraying her with age, she felt like the cool lady who understood the l ..
Support the originator by clicking the read the rest link below.
