In 2010, the caregiver support ratio was more than seven potential caregivers for every person in the high-risk years of 80-plus. By 2030, that ratio is projected to decline sharply to 4-to-1; and by 2050, 3-to-1.
If fewer family members are available to provide everyday assistance to aging loved ones, more are likely to seek institutional care, at greater cost to personal finances, healthcare and long-term services and support programs. Two-thirds of the $2.6 trillion spent on healthcare costs are put toward caring for seniors in their aging years. Rising demand and shrinking support suggest that change is needed, including new resources and technologies that help care for this population.
These technologies are being developed in the mobile space, allowing caregivers and loved ones alike to reap the benefits of a connected lifestyle without having to pay exorbitant amounts out-of-pocket. These technologies aid eldercare in three major ways: 1) connecting caregiver and care recipient, 2) monitoring seniors for their safety, and 3) enabling the elderly to live more independent lives.
Connecting caregivers and recipients
Families are often separated by significant distances from their elderly loved ones. Prior to the development of caregiving technologies, families had limited options to keep in contact without moving or hiring third-party help. However, one of the major drawbacks to caregiving technologies was the feeling of an "impersonal touch." Instead of being greeted by the smile of a loved one, seniors were instead faced with sterile, automated processes. But now, personalization is the name of the game.
With early technologies like SMS texting and Skype, families were able to keep connected and “face-to-face” from a distance. As these technologies become more sophisticated, the personal connection becomes less and less of a problem. Pre-programed systems with recordings from loved ones or live video streaming overcomes the problems of distance without sacrificing the efficiencies of a computer-automated system. Being able to engage on an emotional level with the technologies is key to their success.
Remote monitoring
Innovative approaches and technology solutions are necessary to help millions of families and seniors take better care. Better day-to-day management and preventative steps are fundamental and crucial if we are to overcome the impending senior crisis. One of the biggest challenges that eldercare faces is the need for immediate response to incidents. Take a broken hip, for example: The risk of death from a hip fracture declines by 19 percent when surgery is performed within three days of the break, according to the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Because of the necessary urgency surrounding senior incidents, some families feel the need to over-impose themselves on loved ones to make sure nothing happens. But remote monitoring technologies can negate this need.
Instead of offering cumbersome check-ins, these technologies can become a seamless part of life. As the Internet of Things develops further, everyday objects can serve as tools for caregivers. For example, every time a senior’s coffee machine is turned on, a notification can be sent to the caregiver - there’s no extra step for the senior and the caregiver is kept in the loop of happenings. Now take this a step further: If the coffee machine isn't turned on for a day or two, the caregiver could be alerted and could check in to make sure everything is alright. There’s no need to go out of the way to supervise a loved one, but in this manner one is able to keep tabs on a loved one’s health.
Enabling independent lives
In using these technologies, seniors are given significantly more independence. According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) nearly 90 percent of seniors want to stay in their own homes as they age, a concept often referred to as “aging in place.” Because of this, there’s a willingness to implement new technologies in the home, paired with a knowhow to handle the technologies. In fact, Pew found that 46 percent of senior citizen Internet users access Facebook and other social networks.
Older generations are often stereotyped as being technophobic or incapable of adapting to devices, but the research shows otherwise. Seniors are willing to buy into caregiving technologies if it gives them the chance to live independently, instead of having overbearing family members or intrusive nurses visiting regularly.
Ultimately, advances in eldercare technologies are designed to benefit caregivers and care recipients alike. But beyond being beneficial, these technologies are critical. Because of the rapidly closing care gap, families will have to either completely change the way they live day-to-day or pay out huge sums to caregivers. The way it’s designed now, the system is not prepared for the forthcoming boom in the senior population.
Technology can – and should – change that.
Wolf Shlagman is the founder and CEO of CareAngel. A creative technologist and serial entrepreneur, he has more than 15 years of experience in driving healthcare innovation through consumer-focused technologies. Prior to Care Angel, he founded Consult A Doctor, which was sold to a Kleiner Perkins-backed company in 2013.
