The province of Alberta, Canada announced this week that they will be testing new technologies aimed at augmenting at-home senior services. The array of gadgets will be tested by 25 clients in Grande Prairie and Medicine Hat for the next year and an evaluation phase will follow in the coming year to decide whether the program should be adopted throughout the entire province.
The Edmonton Journal reported that the technology adoption program will include items such as a stove guard that is equipped with a motion sensor to shut off the stove if left unattended. If the stove is shut off, the device will notify a central call center and representatives can contact a client through a two-way voice system and ask if they are safe or need additional assistance.
A flexible bed mat will utilize pressure sensors to alert caregivers that their loved one has woken up and is getting out of bed; a service they hope will give family caregivers extra support to do other tasks while their loved one is sleeping. Doors will also have magnetic sensors that can alert when they are opened to add another level of safety, especially at night in case the first alert from the bed mat is missed.
Another innovative use of technology is in the medication monitoring system that utilizes both a sensor-trigger system and a camera that can send a video clips to family members anywhere in the world. Family members can then watch over loved ones remotely and ensure they are taking the appropriate dosages at the right time.
“The technologies are not intended to replace home-care services… They’re intended to augment [in-home] care and provide informal caregivers and our clients with added comfort,” explained Tracy Ruptash, occupational therapist and coordinator of the pilot project in Grande Rapid.
The program comes in response to the shortage of home-care workers in Alberta and the growing number of residents using these services, currently estimated at 107,000 seniors. If the pilot program succeeds and the technology adopted on a wider scale, the investment may eventually help the government save money by making home-care more efficient and reducing instances of emergency hospital visits.
