By 2030 the United Nations projects that 16% of the population will be 60 and over. At the same time there will be a huge decline in the working population. This means there will be fewer people to support an increasingly senior population, not only financially but in many other ways. Medical costs will increase at the same time, especially as life expectancy continues to rise.
There will be more pressure put on governments and manufacturers to reduce the cost of health care. At the same time they will need to provide solutions to prepare for even further rising expenses. This is where the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) has the potential to help. IoMT are examples of digital technology that can help with medical care. Particularly that of seniors and keep down the costs of healthcare.
There are several ways IoMT can lower medical care costs for seniors:
- Personal Emergency Response Systems. Many senior are aware of these devices and already use them. They offer emergency assistance, fall detection and navigation systems back to a senior’s residence. Some even have boundary perimeter breach alerts. The last two are particularly helpful for seniors who have Alzheimer’s or dementia.
- Family Caregiver Remote Monitoring Tools. These remote monitoring tools help family members monitor loved ones without contacting them directly. For example, the smart plug will notify you when a connected device such as a coffee maker is turned on. Family members can monitor the times that attached devices are used and look for any change in routine or anything that is out of the ordinary. They can then contact their parent to ensure that everything is fine.
- Virtual Home Assistants. Since many seniors live alone or with a partner who is also elderly they may require daily assistance or companionship. Enter the new robot virtual assistants which interact with seniors via touchscreens or voice. They also help to keep them in touch with friends and family through social media and video chat.
Though many of these new digital medical devices are just now coming on the market, in the years to come they will be improved and enhanced. This will in turn help seniors to stay at home longer and save on medical bills. Do you need help with your homecare? To read more about the Internet of Medical Things and other digital devices, click here.
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