The population of aged people is gradually increasing worldwide, and with that, people have to spend more time in poor health. Way back in 2000, the average time that was spent in bad health globally was 8.6 years and has now shot up to 10 years in 2019.
It’s now time to re-evaluate the situation and figure out what can be done so that the elderly can age well.
Here are some examples of how technology can play a part in supporting this mission.
Supporting the Independence of the Elderly
It is noted that more often than not, people like to “age in place” by spending their years in their homes or in communities that contain their family and friends. A recent survey uncovered that 88% of American elders want to receive assistance and care at home rather than living in a long-term care facility. Only 12% of Americans were determined to have chosen a life in the elderly living.
Technology can support the long life of elderly people by providing early detection and response to health issues that may have the risk of coming up, prevention care, and support time for tasks daily.
Facilitating Care
Another way to support healthy aging is access to professional and timely care. However, these days, most people find it difficult to figure out the care system of the aged, and once they are in it, they might not get the support that’s high-quality. Technology can help in increasing the quality, as well as the accessibility of care.
Australian citizens, for example, who have a difficult time trying to find the best care option for your elderly loved one, use Care & Living with Mercer for help. This digital portal is offered as a benefit for employees. Its main purpose is to make the planning process easier for people by helping them to make action plans based on the preference of their loved ones.
Promotion of Emotional and Mental Health
In the whole world, one in five elderly people above the age of 60 suffer from a neurological or mental disorder. A very common risk factor for issues with mental health is isolation among the aged. A key part of technology is social media, where the elderly can be provided with entertainment, information, and a source to stay connected to their loved ones, especially when meeting in person seems impossible.
