Technology is rapidly changing the retirement community space and there are innovations that will make senior living a lot more comfortable. While many aspects of retirement communities remain unchanged such as the tranquil campuses and the focused care that residents receive, technology is bringing new aspects of care into the game. When it comes to senior living technology, here are some of the things that you need to be aware of.
Health Apps
Mobile phones are pretty ubiquitous at the moment and apps are being used for a wide variety of applications including baking, transport, and so on. So, it was inevitable that mobile phone apps would eventually find themselves in health care and specifically in improving health outcomes for our loved ones, Mobile phone apps can help to collate medical data and ensure that it is made available to health care professionals in a timely manner.
This, in turn, allows the healthcare professionals to monitor the health of your loved one and make timely interventions if they are needed The process has moved a step forward and these apps are now able to link with devices such as smartwatches to automatically collect this data. For example, information about blood pressure, pulse rates and so can con periodically be collected by devices such as smartwatches and sent, via these apps to healthcare professionals Since the process is completely automated, there is little danger that your loved one will forget to collect this information.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is an emerging technology that many companies are now investing in due to the potential it has in changing how people work and shop. While virtual reality is mostly associated with the gaming world, retirement communities all across the United States are finding ways to use this technology in some of their operations. A good example is in the area of physical rehabilitation. For people who have undergone medical procedures such as knee replacement or are victims of stroke, physical rehabilitation is critical. By using virtual reality, healthcare professionals can help your loved one heal faster and regain full use of their functionality.
3D Printing
Another emerging technology that is making waves in the area of physical rehabilitation is 3D printing. Here, this technology is used to manufacture prosthetics for loved ones who have lost their limbs due to medical conditions such as diabetes. 3D printing offers precise and versatile prosthetic manufacturing solutions. It can be coupled with other technologies such as virtual reality to ensure that prosthetic products are customized to the person who they are made for. The process is highly accurate and eliminates waste. It also reduces waiting time as it is a lot faster than the traditional approach to manufacturing these prosthetics.
Telehealth
Another innovative approach to healthcare is telehealth. Retirement communities use telehealth to give their residents access to medical care with waiting time virtually eliminated. Another benefit of telehealth is the fact that there is minimal movement by the patient, which is great for loved ones who struggle with mobility issues.
