The Family Caregiver Alliance / National Center on Caregiving publishes a wonderfully informative newsletter. In today’s edition, the FCA recommends learning about new and emerging tools that can afford continued independence with security for our aging population.
Personally I’m wary of “always-on” voice assistive technologies such as Amazon Echo/Alexa, and Google Home, but it’s clear that they offer value in addition to corporate eaves-dropping and personal data leeching; Americans are rapidly integrating these gadgets in their home media systems. A slew of voice-controlled digital communications systems are headed our way. Check out AskMarvee, an Amazon Echo “app” (known as an “Alexa skill”), for example, which enables a person who’s alone at home to connect immediately with family members. Or LifePod, another Alexa skill with a bit more “artificial intelligence” baked into it, which means the system proactively tracks the person’s activities and reminds him or her to take meds, stretch, call the doctor, etc.
The older generation’s desire to remain independent also is driven by the absurdly high costs of assisted-living care, a huge problem that has sparked technology innovations. Dr. Eric Topol, in his book, “The Creative Destruction of Medicine: How the Digital Revolution Will Create Better Health Care,” calls it “monitored independence,” and it is changing how older generations age in America. What do you think?
Topol, E. (2011). The creative destruction of medicine: How the digital revolution will create better health care. Basic Books.