Even in the United States, assisted living facilities are increasingly installing "granny cams," so relatives can check in on their loved ones, said Rick Grimes, a spokesman for the Assisted Living Federation of American, a trade association for operators of assisted living centers. "Some people put a parent in a home and, for whatever reason, can't visit for a year. Then they come to visit and are upset that [their loved one] has deteriorated, Grimes said. The Web cams "allow them to be part of the aging process."
Sunrise Senior Living already makes use of "wander bracelets" that allow staff or a family member to keep track of a resident in case he strays from the premises, Gosselin said.
Carolyn Layton, 74, whose severe arthritis restricts her to a motorized wheelchair in an assisted living home, keeps informed and in touch with friends and grandchildren via her computer and digital camera.
(Robert A. Reeder -- The Washington Post)
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Making the Computer Easier to Use: Seniors interested in getting comfortable with the Internet can be hampered by physical characteristics of computers. A sophisticated world of "assistive devices" exists, primarily for people with physical disabilities, and some of these software programs and systems and devices can cost into the thousands of dollars.
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While computing technology gave people a new way to communicate and access information, in the future it may help them stay out of an assisted living or nursing home setting for as long as possible.
Delaying such a move "can make a big economic difference, as well as a personal one, for older adults," Mynatt said.
In all this giddy excitement about what technology can do to make our old age more, well, livable, the only voices of criticism so far have been those of privacy advocates, who want to know where all the information in our smart houses and wander bracelets will go.
Which brings us to a question: Just whom is this technology for? Do you really want a computer to register whether you've eaten your bran flakes today? Or does your adult child who wants to keep an eye on you without having to leave work?
Aging experts contend that technology can fulfill the needs of both generations, if not emotionally, then at least in practical ways.
"If the person can continue to live in their home and be in a familiar environment, it might be worth the trade-off to have someone check in on you. Is that any different than having your daughter coming over and opening the fridge? Maybe," said Harvey L. Sterns, a gerontologist and director of the Institute for Life-Span Development and Gerontology at the University of Akron. "I think these are really Faustian bargains. It's about how these are used. We're just beginning to explore using technology to help older people."
"Sometimes we get carried away. We have a World's Fair technology-can-solve-all-types-of-things attitude," Mynatt said. "But if you look at the demographic data, even if you wanted the majority of support for older adults to come from humans, you don't have the people. . . . The demographics are working against us for the next few decades. Technology shouldn't replace people, but there's a grudging acceptance that we have to look at technology to fill in the gaps."
Layton would certainly prefer to still be on her own. And, not having a Luddite bone in her body, she would likely be thrilled if technology could help her maintain her independence.
