This leads many seniors to opt for a third option: living independently or with only a spouse. Not only is this the most cost-efficient arrangement the great majority of the time, but this also allows those who dislike professional care to watch after themselves. However, even physically capable seniors can succumb to certain risks when there is no form of oversight keeping an eye on their well-being.
Whether you are a senior in such a position yourself or merely have a loved senior relative in this situation, there are a few affordable ways that you can keep an eye on elderly residents without sacrificing their independence or breaking the bank.
Home monitoring services
While home security systems have always been favored among homeowners as a convenient solution to monitoring a home, they’re particularly useful for residents living alone. This is for two reasons; first, properties with fewer residents have statistically demonstrated higher chances of being burglarized or invaded. Second, fewer residents results in fewer incidents involving false alarms and a greater chance of not compromising passcodes (or other sensitive security-related details of your property.)
Due to the great number of retirement communities and retired individuals in the area, ADT in Fairfield, California is a popular option for seniors. In addition to having flexible affordability, their Pulse app (usable via Smartphone) allows residents and family members to program their systems to send messages whenever a property’s alarm is triggered. Using this technology, residents can also deactivate and reactivate their systems remotely – which is a great feature if you have a particularly forgetful resident.
In addition to home security systems, you can also gear the property to detect fire, gas leaks, and a variety of other environmental hazards depending on where your residence is situated.
Medical alert systems
In addition to securing their house, you can also help keep an eye on seniors with a medical alert system. These are particularly useful for seniors suffering from heart disease, advanced stages of cancer, asthma, or other terminal diseases with sporadic instances in which medical assistance is required. These are practically a must for these individuals who still want to retain their independence despite their condition.
Advancing technologies in these services have given them a level of affordability and versatility that allows even the most active seniors to go about their days unimpeded. Among the most popular of options for these programs include a fall detector, which can help bring medical assistance even if a senior in incapable of reaching a help button. There is also a feature that some services provide which provides GPS location of the senior in case they ever become lost without a means of communicating others.
For decades, choosing between in-home care and a nursing home style facility seemed like an impeachable dilemma for homeowners who were advancing in age. Fortunately, we live in an age where technology allows everyone to maintain the independence they desire without sacrificing their safety. Best of all, these options are generally far more affordable than what professional caregiver services and residences offer.
