Growing old is inevitable but living well should be the standard for all senior citizens. Unfortunately, senior living communities have in the past struggled to keep up with the demands of residents with complex care needs. Luckily, however, the senior care landscape is evolving fast, and there is a bright future ahead when it comes to how seniors will be supported in the years to come. Here’s what the future of senior care looks like.
Technology Driven Senior Living
One of the most significant developments in the senior care space is the way technology is being used to drive the expansion of senior care facilities and improve the health of older citizens. Some of the most revolutionary assistive technology advancements include:
Wearable tech
More and more seniors now have the opportunity to access wearable tech that can support them as they enter their twilight years. In response to their increased risk of falls, seniors can now wear small pendants that have an emergency button installed in case of a trip or fall at home, and if the button is pressed a monitoring team or designated relative will be instantly alerted. Many of these alarms even allow the user to speak directly through an inbuilt microphone to explain what’s happened and get help straight away.
Smart clothing
Smart technology is any tech that uses data analysis or machine learning to carry out its functionality, and in recent years there has been a significant evolution in smart clothing that has the ability to track health factors in the elderly. Although still in its early stages, clothes that can monitor a heart rate or track moisture levels in seniors with incontinence issues have the potential to make a big difference to quality of life for elderly people.
By adapting new technology to the needs of seniors and introducing new products to the market that can support the daily lives of older citizens, organizations can do a better job of helping those who want to age in place.
Rising Popularity of Aging in Place
Aging in place is the process of a senior citizen staying in their own home or community as they age. With 87% of seniors aged 65 and over saying they want to age in place, it’s no surprise that predictions for the future of senior care surround the prominence of this type of residency. However, aging in place isn’t for everyone, and the development of senior-friendly neighborhoods means that this number may fall again.
Senior-Friendly Neighborhoods
Unfortunately, for many seniors who want to age in place, their complex care needs might not facilitate this, and they may need to seek alternative accommodation that can meet their needs through human intervention. Luckily, there is a heavy focus on senior-friendly neighborhoods in the present day, and as senior care evolves it seems likely that these neighborhoods will become even more popular. Senior living facilities are increasingly focused on what they can offer to elderly residents, and residences that specialize in senior care like Belmont Village provide state of the art assisted living La Jolla, with amenities, transport links and health centers on site for their residents.
For senior citizens across the States, the future looks bright when it comes to the opportunities available to them as they age. From wearable tech and smart clothing to stunning state-of-the-art senior facilities, there’s nothing slowing down the continued evolution of senior care.
