46 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • SEPTEMBER 2018
BE PREPARED:
SENIOR HEALTH & WEALTH EXPO
A panel of experts will lead a
discussion on elder law, insurance,
home care, Medicare, financial
planning and much more this
month on Long Island.
The Senior Health & Wealth
Expo is a can’t-miss event that will
feature more than 30 exhibitors,
raffle prizes, entertainment by
Russell Craig of RequestAnything.
com, plus free coffee and
giveaways.
Topics to be discussed include:
Managing Finances - Achieving
Financial Freedom
Choosing Health and Wealth
Plans - The Best Options for You
Housing and Home Care - Keep
Comfortable and Cared For
Elder Law & Estate Planning -
Thinking Ahead
Laughing Through Life - The
Health Benefits of a Good Laugh!
How to Reduce Co-Pays - Keeping
Costs Down
The event will be held from 10
a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20 at
the the Mid-Island Y Jewish Community
Center, which is located at
45 Manetto Hill Road. in Plainview.
To register, email Courtney Myers
at cmyers@qns.com Sponsors include
the Parker Jewish Institute
for Health Care and Rehabilitation,
the Gurwin Jewish Family of
Healthcare Services, the Mid-Island
Y Jewish Community Center,
Noticia and the Long Island Press.
For sponsorship and exhibitor
opportunities, call Joanna Austin
at 718-224-5863 ext. 237 or email
jaustin@longislandpress.com
PRESS HEALTH
NEW TECHNOLOGY PROMOTES
HEALTHY AGING IN PLACE
As millions of baby boomers
reach their golden years, they’re
changing the world yet again, this
time by driving a booming market
in senior-friendly aging-in-place
technologies.
From simple wearable devices to
high-tech monitoring systems, the
list of gadgets designed to help aging
boomers stay independent is extensive
and growing.
Here’s a look at a few of the innovative
technologies that are revolutionizing
aging, and the benefits they
provide.
DIGITAL SOLUTIONS FOR
STAYING IN TOUCH
It’s easy nowadays to take using
smartphones or other digital technology
for granted. But for many seniors,
it has never been an integral part of
their lives, meaning they can be left
out of the family communications
loop. Filling that gap are products
like GrandPad, powered by Consumer
Cellular. It’s a touchscreen-based
tablet with simplified apps that let
older users easily make voice or
video calls, send and receive email,
share photos, stream music and enjoy
other recreational activities such as
digital games.
GrandPad also offers comprehensive
security, operating on a closed
private network to guard against
online scams, and can be managed
by a designated family administrator
for added personalization and protection.
Plus, it’s offered by Consumer
Cellular, a provider with a long
history of serving the senior market.
FALL ALERTS CAN BE
LIFESAVERS
Wearable devices that monitor
and track health are becoming more
popular among all ages. However,
for seniors, especially those without
a caretaker in the home, they can be
lifesaving. With just the press of a
button, help can be summoned for a
wide range of emergency situations.
The most valuable types of these
personal emergency response devices
include accurate fall detection;
falls are a leading cause of death for
adults age 65 and older. Devices can
automatically alert 911 or a close family
member the moment a fall has been
detected. This is especially valuable
for aging-in-place situations where
stairs are present.
SMARTER ACCESS TO
HEALTHCARE AND
MEDICATIONS
As their mobility declines, it may
become more difficult for seniors
to make it to the doctor’s office. In
response, many providers now offer
video consultation for those who
cannot come in for an appointment.
This technology is ideal for those suffering
from minor ailments that do
not necessarily require an in-person
visit.
In addition, for many seniors, medication
regimens can become difficult
to follow, and the misuse of prescribed
medications can lead to negative health
consequences. One technology on the
rise, especially for those without assistance
in the home, is the automated pill
counter designed to alert and properly
dispense all medications that need to
be taken.
IN-HOME TRACKING FOR
SAFETY
Placing activity sensors throughout
the house is becoming a more
and more popular way to monitor
loved ones who are living unassisted.
Sensors can be placed in multiple discreet
locations, like doors, cabinets,
windows or beds to track movement
around the house and report back to
a caretaker or family member.
If the sensors haven’t tracked
movement in an expected amount of
time, alerts can be set up to ensure
a designated family member, caretaker
or friend is notified to check
in on the senior. Tracking and monitoring
systems run the gamut from
units that are integrated with a full
in-home security system, to simple
free-standing versions that are less
costly and more mobile, but may also
be less sensitive.
-BPT
link
link
