Digitalization stops at nothing – not even at nursing care. But which gadgets for seniors are currently on the market and how can they be integrated into the daily lives of residents? The following reveals which five gadgets are currently all the rage.
Breaking through apathy with the Tover tablet
A few residents are sitting together at a table in the living area of BRK-Seniorenwohnen Buchenau and playing soccer. And that’s when things really get going: the seniors drum on the table with both hands and try to kick the virtual ball into the virtual opponent’s goal. Every time they score, they cheer loudly – and suddenly they’re all kids again. All this is made possible by the so-called „Tover table“.
This is nothing more than a box mounted on the ceiling. A mixture of game console, video beamer and sensor package. It projects onto the table below so that seniors can play games, paint or make music. Sensors in the device detect players‘ movements and translate them as commands – Playstation without a controller, so to speak. „The device works wonders,“ says facility manager Katharina Müller. The Tover board is a fun way to break through apathy in residents with advanced dementia. Or the device simply provides more variety and fun in everyday life at the home.
At around 7,000 euros, the Tover board is relatively expensive, but worth considering for any facility. „It means a lot to us to see the otherwise apathetic residents blossom,“ says Müller, giving her feedback on the device.
Lindera app aims to prevent falls
Falls are especially common as we age with decreasing muscle mass and coordination skills. Fall prevention, which should be tailored to the individual, enables seniors to have an independent, mobile and safe everyday life. Once the Lindera app is installed on the smartphone, the mobility analysis can be started. All the resident then has to do: have a 30-second video of his or her own gait recorded and fill out a psychosocial test. Shortly thereafter, the user receives his or her individually tailored preventive measures – from movement and balance exercises, to advice on medication mixes, to tips on the correct adjustment of walking aids. Seniors can repeat this analysis and thus work permanently on their fall prevention.
Considering that around one-third of seniors over the age of 65 fall at least once a year and subsequently have mobility limitations, fall prevention makes sense. The app is an alternative or supplement to classic preventive training. The only drawback: the user needs a prescription for the app. As a class I medical device, however, the costs are then covered by health insurance.
Smartwatch offers protection in everyday life
Despite every preventive measure, everyday accidents can unfortunately happen. If there is no caregiver in the garden or on a trip into town, it is important that seniors can call for help themselves. That’s what special smartwatches for seniors offer: Wristwatches with ease of use, a built-in phone, GPS transmitter and SOS button. So not only can help be called in an emergency. Rescue workers can also determine the exact location through the watch. In addition to the emergency features, the watch can be used for everyday life – whether it’s a phone call to the grandchild or pulse monitoring.
At a price of between 90 and 300 euros, a smartwatch is a luxury product that is particularly suitable for seniors living alone. For residents of a senior facility, it is merely an additional safety net in addition to the all-around care available. In this case, the gadget’s entertainment factor is more likely to offer added value.
Monitoring health with „My Therapy
Blood thinners, ginkgo capsules and vitamins: the amount of medications and supplements seniors take every day increases with age. It’s easy to lose track. The smartphone app „My Therapy“ can remind you of what you need to take with ringtones you choose yourself. Once set up, the app sends the reminder to the user at the same time every day. Family members, caregivers or doctors can also access the app to track the status of the intake. In addition, blood pressure measurements or workouts can be saved in the app. My Therapy not only documents values, but also evaluates them. Thus, an overview, the „My Therapy Health Report,“ is suitable for doctor visits to assess the senior’s overall condition.
The app is free and accessible to any smartphone owner. The only drawback is that relatives and caregivers cannot see on the screen whether the medication was actually taken or only confirmed via the app.
Care-Table as a modern care tool
„Our Care-Table is a giant tablet on wheels, so to speak,“ grins Managing Director Christoph Schneeweiß. As a modern care tool, the device does not replace caregivers, but it does make everyday life in senior facilities easier for them. With a variety of apps that are constantly being developed, seniors have access to a colorful mix of entertainment: including exercises for the brain and motor skills, games for rounds of up to four people, newspapers, church services and the daily news. „With the device, we want to take some of the work off caregivers and offer the elders in our society a better quality of life,“ Schneeweiß said.
The Care Table is already in use in around 200 facilities in Germany, Austria and Luxembourg. And with a one-off price of just under 8,000 euros gross – including updates and maintenance – it’s an investment for retirement homes that are keen to provide varied entertainment away from social care.
