Picture by Andrea Piacquadio by way of Pexels
Greater than half of adults ages 55 and older use assistive know-how — from cell well being apps to health trackers — to assist them keep more healthy to allow them to age in place, according to a May 2023 U.S. News & World Report survey. Growing older in place, as defined by the CDC, is “the power to dwell in a single’s own residence and group safely, independently and comfortably, no matter age, revenue or means stage.”
Greater than three quarters of older adults wish to age at house or of their communities, according to AARP. The U.S. News analysis discovered that 93% of the two,000 folks they polled wish to accomplish that. Nevertheless, getting older can also imply coping with well being points like mobility issues, imaginative and prescient, listening to or cognitive limitations. That may make remaining at house tougher. Whereas there are some programs that may assist with this process, many older individuals are left making an attempt to determine learn how to finest adapt on their very own. That is when know-how may also help.
Why it Issues
The getting older inhabitants is one reporters have to control. By 2034, there might be extra folks over 65 than underneath 18 (77 million vs. 76.5 million), according to the Census Bureau. This burgeoning inhabitants will proceed to put new calls for on all the things from well being care supply to housing to know-how.
Fifty-three % of these within the U.S. News survey mentioned they use assistive tech. Among the many hottest are medical- or health-related cell apps (25%) and wearable medical alert programs (17%). Different generally used applied sciences embrace good house gadgets, listening to help gadgets and repair supply apps like Instacart.
Of the 47% of older adults who mentioned they don’t use any sort of assistive know-how, the bulk (70%) say they don’t really feel a necessity for it but. The remainder cited excessive price (16%) or a concern of dropping independence (14%).
Amongst those that use and embrace tech as a way to assist them age in place, ease of use (75%), ease of setup (50%), accessibility from a cell app (38%) and wi-fi functionality (37%) had been most vital. Voice activation and discrete product design for wearables had been additionally introduced up as prime issues.
Amongst tech customers, practically 9 in 10 folks within the U.S. Information survey mentioned know-how has improved their high quality of life, offering them with extra independence whereas making them really feel safer, more healthy, and enhancing their mobility.
Growing older in place could be difficult for even the healthiest of older adults, the survey famous. Price of dwelling, want for house modifications, well being of a partner, availability of public transportation, social companies, and isolation are simply some of the many factors that affect older adults’ well- being and high quality of life. Journalists can look to profitable ideas just like the Village model or Westchester County, New York’s Center for Aging in Place to see what comparable choices may be accessible in their very own communities.
Sources
