On Thursday, March 30 technology giants Apple and IBM announced an important collaboration. The tech companies are pairing up to develop iPads specifically for the aging population all around the world. The iPads start with “Apple’s existing accessibility features — large text, dictation, and Siri, which will read emails and websites,” according to CNN. IBM will contribute a series of senior-friendly mobile applications — applications that alert seniors about pills, medications, and doctors appointments, apps that track health, and apps that connect users to home care, skilled nursing care, assisted living options, or memory care for seniors. The apps have large, highly visible buttons and adjustable sound settings for the hearing impaired.
Considering Senior Care Options? There’s An App For That
In addition to Apple and IBM’s new iPads, there are apps for every step of the senior care and aging process — including apps to help out when individuals and families are considering senior care options. To put it plainly, there are different levels of care. While 70% of Americans over 65 need long-term care at some point in their lives, 75% of seniors in nursing homes have chronic conditions, and 40% of seniors in assisted living facilities need help with three or more day-to-day activities, all of these facts raise a lot of questions. When do Americans over 65 need long-term care? What chronic conditions do seniors have? What are some indications that seniors already need or will need help with daily activities? By filling in a comprehensive questionnaire, apps can help answer some of these questions — and determine whether senior living communities or more comprehensive, around-the-clock care is appropriate.
Health Monitoring Apps Become Increasingly Hi-Tech
Right now, the FitBit tracks calories, steps, and sleeping patterns. New apps can do a whole lot more — and that’s important for seniors who need to stay on top of their health. New apps assess seniors’ true mobility, give physical therapy exercises and tips for those recovering from knee or hip replacements, and alert nearby hospitals if users fall.
When it comes to selecting the very best senior care or monitoring and tracking senior health down to the specifics, more often than not, there’s an app for that.