Using Technology to Help the Elderly and Their Caregivers | Garett Ho | TEDxMeritAcademy

Summary

The speaker discusses the challenges of caring for aging relatives, particularly those with dementia, and introduces an app designed to assist caregivers. The app syncs with a wearable device to monitor vitals, daily activities, medication, and location, providing real-time alerts and peace of mind. It also aims to address social isolation by connecting seniors and caregivers, offering a community and support network to combat loneliness and its detrimental effects.

Takeaways

• 👵 Aging Care: The script highlights the challenges of caring for aging family members, including the emotional and logistical burdens.
• 🏠 Nursing Homes: It discusses the high costs of nursing home care and whether it's a viable option for elderly individuals.
• 🏠 At-Home Care: The possibility of elderly family members moving into a caregiver's home and the 24/7 responsibilities that come with it.
• 🧠 Dementia Risks: The dangers that can arise in the home environment for those with dementia or Alzheimer's, such as accidents and wandering.
• 📈 Aging Population: The growing elderly population in the US, with a significant percentage of the population being 65 and older.
• 🧠 Dementia Prevalence: The high number of elderly individuals suffering from dementia and the associated cognitive challenges.
• 🚑 Health Risks: The increased risk of death following a fall and the importance of constant vigilance for elderly individuals.
• 💡 Caregiver App: The introduction of an app designed to monitor health markers and provide peace of mind for caregivers.
• 🔒 Safety Features: The app's ability to track heart rate, ECG, daily activities, medication, and location to ensure safety and timely intervention.
• 👥 Social Connection: The app's potential to combat loneliness and social isolation among the elderly by facilitating connections with others.
• 🛠️ Future Enhancements: Plans for the app to include more comprehensive health and safety features, such as automatic home safety measures.

Q & A

What are some common challenges families face when caring for elderly relatives?

Families often face emotional tolls and logistical decisions, especially when the elderly can no longer live independently. Deciding between nursing home care, which can be very expensive, and becoming a full-time caretaker are significant challenges.

What personal experience does the speaker share about elderly care?

The speaker shares that their grandmother, whom they affectionately call Popo, recently moved into a nursing home. They also discuss the experiences of their extended family members who care for aging relatives.

Why can living alone become dangerous for elderly individuals with dementia?

Living alone can be dangerous because individuals with dementia may forget to turn off stoves, potentially causing fires, or forget which faucet is hot, leading to burns. They may also wander away from home, risking getting lost or injured.

What statistics are provided about the elderly population in the United States?

The speaker mentions that 56 million Americans are elderly (65 and older), making up almost 17% of the population. Additionally, about 6.5 million Americans, or 11% of the elderly population, suffer from dementia.

What health risks increase with age and dementia?

Elderly individuals face increased risks such as falls that can lead to fractured hips, which significantly raise the likelihood of death. Dementia increases risks of wandering, forgetting medications, and other safety concerns.

How does the proposed app help caregivers monitor elderly individuals?

The app syncs with a wearable device to monitor heart rate, ECG, daily activities, and location. It provides notifications for any concerning changes, helping caregivers manage health risks without being physically present 24/7.

What specific features will the app include to track elderly health?

The app will monitor heart rate, ECG, daily activities, sleep schedules, medication schedules, and location. It aims to provide comprehensive health tracking to prevent serious issues and ensure proper medication dosing.

How does the app address the problem of elderly wandering?

The app includes a GPS location function to track the elderly's whereabouts, allowing caregivers to intervene quickly if the individual wanders away from home, thus preventing potentially dangerous situations.

What social benefits does the app offer to the elderly and their caregivers?

The app aims to reduce social isolation by connecting elderly individuals for meetups and allowing caregivers to communicate with each other for support. This can help address loneliness, which is linked to higher risks of dementia and other health issues.

What future enhancements does the speaker plan to add to the app?

Future plans include expanding the app to Android, improving fall detection, integrating with webcams for better home monitoring, and developing technology to automatically turn off stoves or close refrigerator doors.

Outlines

00:00

👵 Elderly Care Challenges and the Innovative App Solution

The first paragraph addresses the multifaceted challenges of elderly care, particularly for those with dementia. It highlights the emotional and logistical burdens on families, the high costs of nursing home care, and the risks associated with age-related illnesses. The speaker shares a personal story about their grandmother, 'Popo,' who moved into a nursing home, and the stress experienced by other family members who are primary caregivers. The paragraph also presents alarming statistics about the aging population in the U.S., the prevalence of dementia, and the dangers elderly individuals face, such as accidents and wandering. The introduction of an app designed to monitor health markers through a wearable device offers a potential solution for constant vigilance, providing peace of mind for caregivers and ensuring timely medical intervention.

05:00

🔒 Privacy and Social Connection: Enhancing Elderly Care with Technology

The second paragraph delves into the importance of privacy and dignity in elderly care, and how the proposed app addresses these concerns without intruding. It discusses the potential for the app to collect useful data for medical visits and to allow preset actions for emergencies. The speaker also envisions features that enable direct communication between caregivers and the elderly, as well as social features to combat loneliness and isolation, which are significant risk factors for depression and dementia. The paragraph reflects on the impact of the pandemic on social isolation among seniors and suggests that the app could facilitate connections within a community, providing support and understanding among caregivers. The speaker expresses aspirations to expand the app's features, including cross-platform availability and advanced safety technologies, to improve the quality of life and safety for the elderly and their caregivers.

Keywords

💡Caregiving

Caregiving refers to the act of providing assistance and support to someone who is unable to care for themselves. In the context of the video, caregiving is particularly focused on the elderly, especially those with age-related illnesses like dementia. The script discusses the emotional and logistical challenges faced by caregivers, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of the role, especially when the elderly person can no longer live independently.

💡Nursing Home

A nursing home is a residential facility that provides professional medical and personal care services for the elderly who have health conditions that require constant monitoring and assistance. The script mentions nursing homes as a potential solution for elderly care, highlighting the financial implications and the decision-making process families must undertake when considering this option.

💡Dementia

Dementia is a general term for a decline in cognitive ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. It is a key concept in the video, as it represents a significant health challenge for the elderly that caregivers must manage. The script provides examples of how dementia can lead to dangerous situations, such as leaving the stove on or wandering off.

💡Wearable Device

A wearable device is a type of technology that can be worn on the body to monitor various health metrics. In the video, the speaker discusses an app synced with a wearable device to help caregivers monitor the health of the elderly without constant physical presence, emphasizing the importance of technology in providing care.

💡ECG (Electrocardiogram)

ECG stands for electrocardiogram, a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart. The video script mentions the use of ECG in wearable devices to track heart rhythm and detect potential cardiac events, which can be critical for elderly individuals with heart conditions.

💡Medication Tracking

Medication tracking is the process of monitoring and managing the medication regimen of a patient to ensure proper dosing and adherence to the treatment plan. The script discusses the importance of this feature in the app, as it helps prevent life-threatening errors such as forgetting to take medication or taking it more than prescribed.

💡Location Tracking

Location tracking is the process of monitoring the geographical position of an individual or object in real-time. The video script highlights the use of GPS in wearable devices to keep track of the elderly's whereabouts, which is particularly important for those with dementia who may wander off.

💡Isolation

Isolation refers to the state of being alone or separated from others. In the context of the video, isolation is discussed as a leading cause of depression and a risk factor for dementia. The speaker mentions the app's potential to connect seniors for social interaction, addressing the social challenges of loneliness and isolation.

💡Alzheimer's Association

The Alzheimer's Association is an organization focused on supporting, raising awareness, and advocating for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers. The script cites the association's statistics on the likelihood of individuals with dementia wandering, emphasizing the need for solutions like the proposed app.

💡Community

A community refers to a group of people who share common interests or goals. The video script discusses the potential for the app to create a community of caregivers and seniors, providing a platform for support, understanding, and social interaction, which is crucial for mental health and well-being.

💡Safety

Safety is the state of being protected from harm or other non-desirable outcomes. The script emphasizes the importance of safety for the elderly, particularly those with dementia, and how the app aims to enhance safety through features like fall detection, medication tracking, and location monitoring.

Highlights

The emotional and logistical challenges of caregiving for the elderly are overwhelming, especially for those with age-related illnesses like dementia.

Nursing home costs can exceed $100,000 per year, making it a financial burden for many families.

Becoming a primary caretaker at home involves assuming 24/7 responsibilities, which can be consuming.

Elderly individuals with dementia can face dangerous situations in their homes, such as fires or burns due to forgetfulness.

Wandering is a significant concern for elderly with dementia, posing risks of injury or getting lost.

The aging population in the US is growing, with 56 million Americans aged 65 and older, making up 17% of the general population.

Approximately 6.5 million Americans suffer from dementia, which is 11% of the elderly population.

Falls resulting in a fractured hip can significantly increase the likelihood of death, especially if not treated surgically.

The proposed app aims to track health markers and sync with a wearable device for seniors, allowing remote monitoring by caregivers.

The app will monitor heart rate, ECG, daily activities, and location, providing notifications for caregivers in case of abnormalities.

ECG tracking is critical for detecting heart rhythm variations that could indicate serious cardiac events.

Monitoring daily activities, including sleep schedules, is crucial for overall health and can prevent mood disorders.

Medication tracking through the app ensures accurate dosing and timely notifications for refills, preventing life-threatening mistakes.

The location function of the app uses GPS to keep track of the senior's whereabouts, aiding in the safety of those prone to wandering.

The app addresses privacy concerns by allowing tracking without intruding on the elderly's daily lives.

Future plans for the app include preset actions for emergencies, direct communication features for caregivers, and social connectivity to combat loneliness.

The app has the potential to expand to Android, integrate with webcams, and develop technology for home safety, such as automatically turning off appliances.

The number of people with dementia in the US is projected to reach 12.7 million by 2050, emphasizing the need for such safety and community apps.

The app can provide a sense of security for caregivers and help seniors live more fully, safely, and securely.

Transcripts

foreign

how many of you are close with an aging

relative or front

who here has special memories with a

grandparent

are any of you the primary caretaker of

an elderly member of your family

perhaps you take care of someone with an

age-related illness like dementia

for many families the specific

caregiving can be overwhelming

not only is there the emotional toll but

there are seemingly endless logistical

decisions that have to be made

particularly as the elderly reaches a

point where they can no longer live on

their own

is the nursing home the best option or

even a financial possibility with costs

upwards of one hundred thousand dollars

a year or more will they be able to move

into your home and then you become the

primary caretaker assuming the 24 7

responsibilities that come along with

that role

my grandmother who I affectionately

referred to as Popo

recently moved into a nursing home

she has the financial means to do so and

thankfully she's quite happy in her

surroundings

my extended family has people taking

care of their aging relatives I overhear

the stories about the stress they

experience and how caretaking consumes

almost every hour of their days

for people with Dementia or Alzheimer's

the one safe surroundings of their homes

can become incredibly dangerous

82 year old Molly left the stove on

after warming up a suit for lunch and

inadvertently started a house fire

76 year old Nathan forgot which fossa

was hot and ended up burning himself

quite seriously

90 year old Ryan wandered out of the

house and walked almost two miles on a

busy highway until a police officer

located him and escorted him back

although the names have been changed for

privacy reasons these are real stories

and sadly not all stories of people who

wander off or injure themselves end well

the Aging population of the US is

growing

56 million Americans are elderly or ages

65 and older that is almost 17 percent

of the general population

additionally about 6.5 million Americans

or 11 of the elderly population suffer

from dementia

the cognitive challenges of Aging are

not the only concern

a fall that results in a fractured hip

increases the likelihood of death by 21

even if treated with surgery

this number skyrockets to 70 if the

injury is not treated surgically

there is a need to have constant

Vigilant watch over many elderly people

particularly those with dementia

paranoia unpredictable Behavior

forgetting medicines and wandering out

of the home are just few of the many

challenges caregivers must contend with

so I'm designing an app that can help

track several different markers of

individual health

the app will be synced with a wearable

device for the senior allowing

caretakers to monitor them without

needing to be present 24 7.

the Apple monitor heart rate ECG daily

activities and location

fluctuations in heart rate can indicate

a serious medical problem

and the app will notify caregivers so

help can be provided quickly

ECG or electrocardiogram tracks the

heart's Rhythm and electrical activity

variations to the ECG can indicate a

slight heart murmur to a full-on cardiac

event in which time to get help is

critical

for caregivers who stress about leaving

to grocery shop or return to their job

after checking on their loved one

the peace of mind that comes from having

this kind of information could be

life-changing

daily activities also monitors the

elderly sleep schedules which is one of

the most important aspects of Health

adequate sleep thieves off heart disease

and mood disorders while enhancing clear

thinking and focus

if someone doesn't get enough sleep on a

daily basis they could be putting their

overall health in jeopardy

medication tracking can also be

monitored through the app the goal is to

track medication schedules and

dispensing ensuring accurate dosing and

notifications when pills are in low

stock

forgetting to take medicines or

accidentally taking them more than

prescribed can be life-threatening it's

common for seniors to be on multiple

medications but proper dosing is

critical

blood pressure medication prescribed for

once daily consumption can save a life

but for the Alzheimer's patient who

inadvertently takes it more than once a

day it can be life-threatening

the location function allows GPS to

identify where exactly the senior is at

all times

this has specific benefits for those

with Dementia or tendency to wander many

caregivers of these memory challenge

individuals cite the stress over leaving

their home and getting lost are their

greatest concern

remember Ryan the 90 year old man who

wandered for two miles on a busy highway

this app would have notified Ryan's

caregiver of his location and they could

have intervened earlier

the Alzheimer's Association suggests

that 6 in 10 people living with dementia

will wander at least once and many do so

repeatedly

privacy and maintaining dignity get more

challenging as people age and health

demands increase

people concerned about the Integrity of

the elderly while the app tracks them in

their daily lives

this app addresses that very concern

people can use the app both inside of

the home and outside

being aware of the elderly's actions

does not mean intruding on their privacy

and not every notification will require

face-to-face interaction

but the collection of data can be useful

for future doctor visits

in the future I intend to make preset

actions possible

like calling an ambulance in the event

of certain medical issues noted by the

app

I also intend to add a function for

caregivers to directly speak to the

elderly in order to check how they are

doing remind them to take medicines or

anything else that would require the

caregiver to speak to them

there are also social concerns that the

elderly experience and the app can

address

loneliness is one of the leading causes

of depression

social isolation is associated with a 50

increased risk of dementia

the CDC suggests that poor social

relationships among the elderly increase

Christopher Stroke by 32 percent in

heart disease by 29 this app can solve

some of these Social Challenges

other seniors within a certain

geographical radius will be able to

connect for in-person or virtual meetups

the impact of isolation is something we

can all understand if we look back at

the coveted pandemic

While most of us were isolated in some

fashion seniors were an ultra lockdown

unable to see each other for extended

periods of time

the lingering effects of the pandemic

prove just how detrimental loneliness

can be

this app can play a vital role in

connecting people together

how fantastic would it be for caregivers

to speak with other caregivers as well

providing the much needed understanding

that only other caregivers can provide

a community can be created from this app

and I am inclined to see this aspect of

it grow

the possibilities for additional

features is exciting

I hope to expand from iOS to Android

more comprehensive fault detection

syncing with webcams and some kind of

technology to make sure that the stove

is not left on are just some feature

plans

these all improve the safety

capabilities of the app

more comprehensive fall detection will

allow the app to detect Falls more

quickly and accurately and not rely on a

spike in heart rate to know that

something is wrong

full detection coupled with webcams that

I intend to implement

can give a better understanding of the

situation inside of the home the

technology to automatically turn off the

stove or maybe close the refrigerator

doors do seem challenging but they are

the very challenges that we must tackle

the number of people living in the U.S

with dementia is projected to be 12.7

Million by 2050.

there's a tremendous need to keep this

community safe and provide a sense of

security for caregivers

by monitoring vitals and dealing

activities and creating connections

within the community through a

user-friendly app

people can live their lives more fully

safely and securely

thank you

[Applause]