When you think of technology, many of the words that come to mind are current, trendy and modern. Yet, society finds that the older generation is at odds with technology.
However, seniors are the generation that could benefit the most from wearables. Below are some of the top benefits that wearable technology can give to seniors.
Promotes Exercise
Promoting exercise is crucial for improving quality of life and longevity. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that adults over 65 years should have moderate activity of 150 minutes each week. Or, they must attain 75 minutes of vigorous exercise every week.
Wearable technology, like smartwatches and fitness trackers, is designed to keep people active and engaged in regular exercise. These tiny devices that are worn on the wrist can help monitor activity levels, including:
- The number of steps a senior takes.
- The number of calories they burn.
- Blood oxygen levels
Furthermore, wearable technology offers gamification features, making daily exercise fun and even more encouraging for seniors.
Keeps Track of Biomarkers
Wearable devices aren’t only beneficial for promoting movement. They track and collect important health data and biomarkers. The ability to track biomarkers is especially critical for adults needing advanced care.
Health care professionals can capture these metrics and improve diagnostic and treatment timelines. As such, these biomarkers include:
- Heart rate
- Blood pressure
- Minutes of activity
- Sleep patterns
Health care providers can capture this data and improve their care — especially for those who don’t have anyone to advocate for them.
Provides Medical Treatment
Wearables can also provide medical treatment, such as injections. Though implanted medical devices aren’t anything new, these technologies are much more accessible, affordable and lightweight.
Therefore, seniors have more access to treatment for conditions such as diabetes, improving their overall health care.
Fosters Independence
The biggest issue that seniors face is their loss of independence. These feelings can occur when parents become more dependent on their children. Or, it happens when they face unfamiliarity living in an assisted care facility.
Living in a home associated with good memories allows seniors to maintain their sense of dependence. Otherwise, losing their independence can detriment their mental health, causing depression, anxiety, hopelessness and irritability.
Wearables support feelings of independence for those who face risks of falling. Essentially, they can detect falls by tracking heart rhythm disruptions and sending an alert when needed.
Should seniors need immediate assistance, they can communicate with emergency services through their wearable devices.
Supports Mental Health
Mental health problems are common among the elderly. The most prevalent among this age group is perhaps depression and anxiety. In fact, two million older adults suffer from depression in the U.S.
Unfortunately, they are left without the proper ways to deal with their mental illnesses.
Yet, wearable devices may help seniors return their brain activity to a state of calmness when experiencing anxiety and depression. These devices generate gentle vibrations, which alter the body’s response levels to stress and help the person feel at ease.
Schedules Reminders
Seniors constantly face numerous tasks, such as remembering when to take their medications. This can be confusing, especially if an older adult suffers from memory loss.
Alarm clocks aren’t as effective as wearables. They might alert us when we need to do something, but remembering what that is can be overwhelming.
With wearable technology, seniors can receive reminders with context and on schedule. These devices are excellent for ensuring older adults know what’s on their day's schedule and ease memory loss issues.
Wearables Enrich Seniors’ Quality of Lives
Smartwatches, fitness trackers, and wearable medical devices improve and save the lives of seniors. While they provide peace of mind for users, they also allow for more independence. They aren’t for only the younger generations in this day and age.
Older adults can receive numerous benefits and keep themselves connected to those close to them.