US seniors want to use technology to help them remain at home

Two new US reports show that

* Older adults want to use technology so they can age safely in their home
* Family caregivers agree technology can ease some of the challenges of caregiving
* Concerns such as cost to install and maintain equipment remain barriers for people 65-plus and for caregivers

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Foundation commissioned a report which examined the attitudes of people 65-plus and caregivers towards technology and found that both groups are concerned about costs.

The study lays out the categories of technologies that exist to ease the burden of caregiving for informal and paid caregivers. These include:

* Sensors that can detect and notify a caregiver if a person being cared for does not get out of his chair or turn off the stove
* Health technologies that can monitor blood pressure, respiration and other conditions in real time while the person is at home, reducing the need for doctor’s visits and notifying caregivers immediately of significant changes
* Medication dispensers providing the appropriate medicines at the appropriate time and reminding a person being cared for to take them
* Computer games providing social networking, brain stimulation and even monitoring of cognitive abilities through the use of diagnostic games