Staying In Touch

by Karl Edmunds

The most profound impact to aging seniors is often the slow loss of control as the years go by.  This lack of control may occur when you suddenly have restrictions on where or when you can drive a car.  Or, as a child, you are forced to take the car keys away from your parents.

One of the last key measures of control is the enduring desire to remain in your own home independently for as long as possible. Even if your home is defined as some form of senior retirement community, the desire to remain independent with the ability to make your own decisions is paramount.

This drive for independence creates a dilemma for children and caregivers charged with providing care and various types of services.  And in many cases this effort to extend care is taking place over great distances.

New technologies are rapidly solving is challenging problem.  Several leading manufacturers now offer a modular home monitoring system that can be inexpensively set up in a matter of minutes.  These systems allow caregivers to actively monitor your loved ones through your cell phone or computer.

Home monitoring allows remote children and local caregivers to be alerted to safety, health and security concerns with little delay.  New systems provide advanced motion detection technology and the ability to select motion zones so that email or text alerts can be sent if any detection occurs.

For example, I could select a zone to be my parent’s bedroom door and set the system to alert me by a text message if my parent didn’t come through the door by 8:00 am each morning.  Or I can be alerted if they cross defined safe zones at certain times. At any time of the day or night I can log in to the system to view directly into my parent’s home to verify they are in good condition.

These technologies allow aging parents to remain completely mobile and permits children to continue their usual routines with minimal disruptions.  Both parties have increased freedom and independence. And the low cost of this type of monitoring keeps everyone in familiar surroundings as long as possible while avoiding the emotional impact and dramatic costs of nursing facilities.

Finally, home monitoring with wireless cameras reduces the likelihood of theft
that can periodically occur from in-home professional caregivers.  Theft of personal property and of the actual identity theft of seniors is a real risk in today’s environment and will continue to grow as the world of technology extends its reach into our lives.  Also, home care providers are less likely to mistreat a patient with home monitoring.

Caring for aging parents is not easy.  The toll on the pocketbook and your emotional resources can be steep.  But new monitoring technology coupled with patience and respect can offer families a powerful balance between the need for safety and the desire to be independent.