By: Olga Hernandez
Staying independent for as long as we can is a goal for most of us, no matter what age we are. Well, there are exceptions. Don’t ask my husband. He will tell you I am the least independent person, but that’s just when he‘s around.
Anyway, enough of that nonsense. Let me give you some tips on ways you can stay independent in your own home with technology. We can all use a tip here and there.
- Automatic pill reminders – There are many options to help you take your medications safely and consistently.
I’ve seen some models that attach to the pill bottle as the lid. The lid reminds you with an alarm that you or a loved one can program, and the lid also keeps track of when the last medications were taken.
I’ve also seen some models that keep the pills locked until a certain time, then unlock with an alarm to remind you.
Another option might be one of the talking clocks that are out there. A loved one can program its recordings to remind you to take your medications.
If you have an iPhone, you can also have your loved one set up alarm reminders with the next medication needed.
- House-cleaning robots – There are house-cleaning robots that can make things like vacuuming and cleaning your floors a lot easier.
Did you know, for those who have cats or dogs, there are now self-cleaning devices like self-cleaning litter boxes and self-cleaning indoor doggy pads? Oh, how technology has taken over the unpleasant cleaning tasks!
Since COVID, air purifiers have been a big thing in people’s homes to help eliminate airborne germs.
These are great gadgets for those who find housework to be exhausting or hard to accomplish because of disability or illness.
- Safety devices – There are many personal emergency response systems out there to choose from. They range from bands you wear on your wrists that let you signal for help to full-on camera systems that can be installed to let your family monitor you.
There are also sensors that can be attached to the objects that you use the most. Then, if something seems amiss or out-of-routine for you, your loved ones can be alerted to check in on you.
Smartwatches are a big thing now to track certain health issues like abnormal heart rates and blood oxygen levels.
Most of these safety systems can be viewed or managed on a smartphone.
- Just plain cool GPS shoes – There are shoes and shoe inserts now that help keep people safe who are dealing with Alzheimer’s or dementia, and may have the potential to wander.
A safe area is set up for the person, and if they go outside of that boundary, an alert is sent to their loved ones.
There are also air tags that can be used the same way as well as cell phones in general.
These gadgets are just a few of the vast options available to help you stay home and live independently longer. Who knows? The way the world is changing and technology is advancing, this list of tips may be outdated in a year or two!
Downsizing and decluttering is another major way to help stay independent for longer and avoid any accidents or issues. It’s good to refer to our “Downsize & Declutter” presentation through Health AllianceTM that can provide tips on ways to help declutter and downsize inside your home.
If you’d like to schedule a Health Alliance presentation or see a full list of our educational program offerings, please contact your local community liaison.
Olga Hernandez is a community liaison for Health Alliance Northwest, serving Yakima County. Born and raised in the Yakima Valley, she enjoys fishing alongside her husband and three wonderful children, as well as traveling to at least one new place every year.
Like this article? Feel free to respond to Outreach@HealthAlliance.org. Thanks for reading!