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Nursing Homes Go High-Tech

Posted by michael on from the I've-fallen-and-I-can't-get-my-LAN-up dept.

mattlary writes "Here's an interesting article about a tracking system being installed in a retirement community. The system can track where residents are anywhere in the campus, and also uses cameras to keep an eye on residents. The community also contains numerous sensors so staff can track residents' activity."

2 of 152 comments (clear)

  1. I work with elderly patients on a daily basis.... by IanDanforth · · Score: 3, Interesting
    I can tell you a few things about the elderly. Most of them make the decision eventually to get into assisted living facilities. Its not their kids, or anyone pushing them. If they live a long time alone, have a spouse die, or see declining health in their partner. Assisted living becomes a real, and valuable, option.

    Now the participants I deal with are all cognitively aware for the most part, but even the sharp ones will get lost walking up and down a short corridor. Over the age of 80 there is a steep decline, though you'd be amazed at how active people are late into their 70s!

    Only a few of the men I've talked to would take up something like this device willingly, but most if not all would love their spouses to have it. And I'm sure the wives feel similarly (I only get to see the men).

    Would I want such a device? Probably not, but then again I am intimately familiar with what a hip fracture does to someone, and how scary even mild dementia can be.

    -Ian

  2. These Would Be Nice for Home Base Care As Well by mrs+clear+plastic · · Score: 4, Interesting

    My father is in the first stages of
    alzeimers.

    So far, he can still remember where he
    is and how to get back home. He goes
    about his daily walks with no problem.

    However, I can see the day when his alzeimers
    advances to the point where he may not be
    able to find his way back home.

    Would it be nice to have some sort of tracking
    on him so that mom (who is caring for him) can
    find him, or better yet, a device that is plugged
    into his ear that tell him how to get back home
    based on gps and street map information; like;
    'Walk left at the next intersection'; and
    so forth.

    We as a family will be needing something like
    this.

    --
    Cleara