The improving technology in senior living homes has been a breakthrough for everyone involved. These technologies include but are not limited to:
- Digital medical records
- Electronic monitoring devices
- Even robotic caregivers
These technologies improve the quality of care which in turn helps improve senior health. With improving technology, medical professionals can do their jobs better with more effectiveness.
Every senior living facility does not have to be a 21st century wonder of technology. However, it’s a good idea for a senior living facility to at least have Wi-Fi (local area wireless technology). Most coffee shops and libraries in the United States have Wi-fi. So Wi-Fi can serve as an admission to more precise treatment and diagnosis which can make residents more at ease. Wi-Fi will help health providers get data from monitoring devices (like blood pressure readings).
What are Electronic Medical Records?
Electronic Medical Records (EMR) are health records in a digital form like a patient file. Your doctor can bring up your full medical history on a tablet device with a Wi-Fi connection. An EMR will show the doctor a complete list of your prescription medications and the doctor you see when you need a specific therapy or treatment.
Practitioners, nurses and doctors can use EMRs to collaborate amongst each other. This makes it easier for your medical history to be readily available for this network of providers. So if a health provider has to make a significant decision, they can do so quickly with an EMR. As long as they have Wi-Fi, they can assess your present medical information using your EMR.
There are lots of benefits in using EMRs including a reduction in:
- Storage space
- Paper usage
- and other wasteful materials for both staff and patients.
Also, if you visit your doctor, there would be no need for filling out paperwork with digital records. This will save lots of times for everyone in the medical building. Which means more time treating the needs of patients and less time doing paperwork.
What is remote monitoring and caregiving?
Remote monitoring requires a connection linking health-care providers and home-based monitoring equipment. With remote monitoring you can be independent as much as you can during your senior years. You can use remote monitoring to inform a family member or friend if there is a health accident. You can do this even if you live alone.
You can also learn how to manage your current health condition on your own through web-enabled wellness monitoring. With this, our health care provider can make sure that you’re sustaining exercise and a reasonable diet, as well as taking your medications. Health-care professionals believe your health will improve from this technology. They can do frequent check ups so you can maintain a healthy lifestyle which can reduce costs from doctor visits.
There are a declining number of available health providers. Robot caregivers can be a solution to that problem. The following is what caregiver robots can do for you, including but not limited to:
- Issue networked communication
- Manage medical appointments
- Provide medication reminders
In most situations, robots do not replace a human caregiver but they supplement the caregiving.
Japan, the United States, and much of Europe are investing in research to perfect robot caregiving technology. It is still not the norm in the health-care industry but the leaps of research for robots are encouraging in the future.
Please note that not all healthcare facilities or plans will use electronic health technology like an EMR. However, every year there is a growth of health insurance providers and companies using these technologies. If you want to know more about whether your provider uses these technologies, you can ask them for more information and any concerns you may have.
Please note that you should not use this article as professional medical advice. This is only for informational purposes. Always discuss with your health care provider if you need treatment or diagnosis for a health condition. This includes the right medication for your illness or injury, as well as if you need to be on a specific diet or exercise plan.