What Kinds of Technology Can Help You Parent Feel More Independent?

Maintaining a sense of independence is valuable to people of all ages. Exerting independence is something people start doing in the earliest moments of their life, and this desire for it increases throughout life. The need for independence, autonomy, and the ability to express yourself does not end with getting older. In fact, the sense that they are losing their independence with age can be one of the most difficult elements of getting older for seniors. This loss of autonomy can leave your parent experiencing depression, anxiety, and loss of motivation. As their family caregiver, you can make a tremendous difference in your parent's life by helping them maintain more independence in their daily life. One way you can do this is through technology.

Technology is a part of everyday life for most people. Cell phones, computers, tablets, and any number of other devices dominate daily activities from staying in touch with others to making appointments to shopping and entertainment. Introducing technology into your parent's life can help them to experience more independence by taking on more of their own activities and being able to be in their own home alone more frequently.

Some technology that can help your parent feel more independent as they age in place include:

Mobile device. The simplest and most straightforward form of technology to give to your parent is a mobile device. A cell phone allows your parent to stay in touch with family and friends through phone calls and text messages, and can even offer more forms of communication if you choose a smartphone. These devices can also offer the ability to utilize the internet, take pictures, and more.
Wearable GPS. If you are concerned about your parent's cognitive functioning, memory skills, or other issues, you might feel uncomfortable with the idea of them being alone, much less leaving their home. A wearable GPS can make this easier for both of you. With this type of device you are able to track your senior's movements so you can easily find them if they go missing, or become disoriented and do not know where they are.
Smart features. Integrating smart features into your parent's home can make it easier for them to go through daily activities and handle minor memory lapses. For example, smart locks can let your parent lock their home after leaving, while smart appliances let your parent simply state what they need done.

If you are striving to help your aging parent feel more independent and autonomous as they age in place, now may be the ideal time for you to start elder care for them. Though it may seem counterintuitive to introduced an elderly home care services provider as a means of supporting independence, this is not the case. The fully customized services of an elderly home care services provider are specifically designed to help your parent cope with their individual challenges, needs, and limitations while also supporting the lifestyle they wish to live. Whether this is volunteering in the community around them, staying in touch with friends and family members, or just enjoying their favorite hobbies and activities in their own home, this care provider can help your parent accomplish this goal. Physical support for mobility issues, help with personal care tasks such as bathing and dressing, meal preparation to help with healthy nutrition, medication reminders for compliance, transportation, companionship, and more enable your parent to live the life that is right for them.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Sandy, UT, contact the caring staff at Interim Healthcare. Call today 801-401-3515.

Author: Michael and Marlena Hawkins, Owners, Interim HealthCare, Salt Lake City, UT

Interim HealthCare of Salt Lake City has been in business since February 2014, providing in-home personal care and support services that help our elderly and/or disabled neighbors live enriched, safe and independent lives. Our goal is to provide customized care and support services that make it possible for our clients to remain in the comfort of their own homes rather than relocate to an assisted living facility. Interim HealthCare is family owned by Michael and Marlana Hawkins, and is a Veteran Owned Small Business.