Technological Effects on the Economy

If there are many technological advancements arising that improve health, what affect will this have on the economy? New technologies that make a workspace easier to operate in while more comfortable at the same time, could allow elders the opportunity to contribute to society and the growth of the economy. This would be extremely satisfying for most elders because it will make them feel responsible for benefitting their communities. It will improve their health because it will make happy knowing their worth is still realized by younger generations. Aside from personal satisfaction, it will keep elders active thus keeping them sharp. Now, I'm not trying to say that elders never have to retire. The office space is known to bring unneeded stress in elders lives. However, elders are still given the chance to participate in economic activities. Also, for those elders who refuse to slow down and retire, these technological advancements will make dealing with the workplace more tolerable.

Disadvantages of Technological Innovations?

In my other posts I have addressed the positive aspects of technological advancements but I believe it is important to look at the other side of all issues and highlight some of their disadvantages as well. Even though most technological innovations have significantly improved the well-being of senior citizens, they have some flaws. Most technologies are designed to compensate for a elders impairment. But what if an elder individual has more than one impairment? If this is the case, the ability to use these technologies could be in an issue. So, although these technologies are exciting due to all the help they provide elderly, they aid they provide can also be limited. Also, it is proven that social interaction is crucially important for senior citizens because it isolation can cause depression and ill health. So, if a senior citizen feels that, with the aid of these technological advancements, care for themselves and not have to depend on anybody, then there is a good chance that the amount of social interaction in their lives decreases. So while technology lessens the amount of help the elderly need, it also has the threat of lessening all social contacts. Social interaction is scientifically know to improve health and well-being for all people but today it seems that more and more people are finding satisfaction in solitude with entertaining technologies. The benefits received from social interaction can not be matched by the use of technologies, and this must be realized by the elderly.

Technology Saves Elders Money

I have addressed how technological advancements have had a positive affect on elders health. But, these new technologies do more than prolong the life of elders, they also save them and there families a substantial amount of money. The average cost of a nursing home is about $50,000 per year. Aiding technologies can be pricy, but they are cheap compared to the annual cost of nursing home. Whether it is a heart rate monitor placed in an elders bed in order to measure their respiration or a vibration detector that will notify help if a senior had fallen; the costs of these technologies will vary from a few hundred dollars to $8,000. So, benefits go beyond granted independence, there are huge financial savings that come with this ability to live on their own. It seems as if these technologies prevent senior citizens from being forced into paying an average of $50,000 a year, which probably affect their families even more who need to aid them in providing the money. However, I see an easy cause for an argument. Some might think it is worth it to pay $50,000 to guarantee that your elder is being taken care of by professionals and that they will receive immediate assistance whenever in trouble. Its a conflict between saving money while allowing independence and a guarantee of quick assistance given by professionals. It ultimately comes down to what the family thinks is best for their loved-one, so valid reasoning can be provided to argue for both standpoints.

Abundant LifeSM

"The center is a premier showcase of technology solutions designed to improve senior living," said David Fenoglietto, president and CEO of Lutheran SeniorLife. "As part of our strategic initiative to leverage technology, it presents many of the products we have introduced throughout our communities over the past year and a half. The new center – and its technology – will give seniors more opportunities for living an Abundant Life^SM  both now and in the years to come." (Quote from link below) 

 I believe that the Lutheran SeniorLife has taken many measures to make life easier for senior citizens by implementing new technologies. I'm providing the link to the website because there are many new technologies used by SeniorLife which are mentioned and evaluated. What I do like about the evaluations of these technologies is that there are critiques on some of the items highlighting what can be seen as possible flaws throughout there usage. These critiques evoke learning and growth, which can be used to further strengthen their affect. 
Here is the link : http://www.lutheranseniorlife.org/technology

Senior Mind Games.

Brain performance can be restored by performing exercises aimed at increasing brain function. These exercises have been found useful while helping people who have suffered car accidents or other significant injuries. Now, this is being used to make senior citizens sharper. The brain is similar to any other muscle in the body in the sense that with simulation, growth and development of new nerve cells can develop. These exercises have no age requirement as the brain is always capable increasing neural function. Seniors that performed these exercises saw a reduction in the loss of gray matter, further development in new brain cells, strengthening of communication passageways, and increased blood flow. The key to these exercises is to constantly learn new skills that train their thinking processes. So, these exercises are not new technologies, per se, but they are new innovative methods aimed at increasing the overall health of senior citizens. One positive aspect brought out by these exercises which had a significant affect on the health of elders is improvements of the brain caused by laughter. It is extremely important to promote laughter in elderly communities due to its reduction of stress, which is known to shrink brain cells. In order for these exercises to have an affect, they have to be continually practiced because mental and physical stimulation increases the mobility of elders. I recently took a class called Occupational Therapy while at USC. Occupational Therapy is an extremely effective therapeutic method amongst elderly communities because the theory of the science states that if elders have structure and activities to do in their lives, it will positively affect their mood and health. Even something as simple as playing with blocks will increase elders mobility in their finger tips and spark creativity which will increase brain function. So, having taken the class, I am a firm believer that these exercises have a noticeable positive affect on overall health.

Strides in Orthotic technology

While aging, it can be common to experience muscle, ligament, and bone impairments that impede functionality and mobility. However, new strides have been made in orthotic technologies that combat these impairments allowing elders to have an easier time getting around. A recent invention is known as the Walk-Aid. “Walk-aid is a new myo-orthotic device that uses advanced sensor technology to analyze a patient's gait cycle. As the patient walks, the walk-aid sends a small electrical stimulation to the peroneal nerve actually restoring the functionality of the foot by recreating a natural nerve-to-muscle response” (The Elder Care Channel). With this added comfort and ease of walking around, elders can get out of their house in order to perform chores, take care of themselves, and also develop more social lives. These technological advancements not only provide elders with much appreciated comfort, but it also has a direct affect on improving their balance, stamina, and coordination. As falling needs to be avoided in later years to avoid a possible bone break or sprain that will not heal easily, the increased balance will lessen the risk. All of these positive aspects are reflected in much more outgoing and overall healthier elderly population. So go ahead and book that tee-time seniors, and don’t stop on the 9^th hole. 

Importance of Computer Knowledge

Witnessing my friend’s grandfather trying to use a computer was one of the most entertaining things I have seen to date. After a few minutes of trying to figure out the relationship between the mouse, keyboard, and screen, his frustration got the best of him and he gave up on trying to figure it out. It is common for elders to stay away from these devices because they feel that trying to learn is an impossible task and count themselves out before giving it a real effort. Computers have unarguably been one of the best technologies in mankind. They allow us to connect and obtain answers from the outside world without even leaving our homes. The affect that computers can have on elder’s health is immense for various reasons. It provides a form of social interaction to maintain connections and lessen feelings of isolation, allow elders to access information about improving their own health, and incorporate countless other insights aimed to improve the quality of living. Realizing all the benefits that come with this computer knowledge, seminars in computer education are available to senior citizens. For example, “Al Marcovitz, the computer coordinator at Maret School, in the District of Columbia, has set up a project where seniors from Iona Senior Services can learn about computers at Maret's (pronounced "Mahray") Macintosh computer lab. Seniors, paired with students, explore and enjoy various programs on the Mac. Al's project has had press coverage in the Washington Post, and has garnered considerable interest by those interested in "inter-generational computing projects." Elders will be more willing to learning technologies in a comfortable environment and, with that being said, these seminars can be seen as a step in the right direction to increasing the amount of technologically literate seniors.

Elders obtain independence through technological advancements

In some cultures, let’s use Japan as an example, there is an emphasis on strong familial relationships, which holds each member responsible for taking care of one another. The Japanese believe that if they devote their lives to raising their children, their children should return the favor by caring for them as they become older and less able to take care of themselves. But times are changing. And although this aspect of familial responsibilities may still hold true for many, younger generations have developed a Westernized attitude, in which they see caring for elders as a burden which impedes the advancement of their own lives and financial success. So what options do these elders have if there families can’t always look after them resulting in a danger of living alone? Nursing homes? Well, with today’s new technological advancements, elders are given a chance to avoid that option given tools that will make living independently a much easier task. Flipping through channels on the television, odds are that you’ve come across a life alert commercial. If you are unfamiliar with life alert, it is a necklace that an elder places around their neck, and if they ever find themselves in a health related emergency, can simply press a button on the necklace that will contact the nearest emergency service and direct them to the victims location.

This is an example of a technological advancement that creates living alone a more realistic solution. Another clever technological advancement is the “cognitive coach” which ensures elders take the correct dosage of medication at the correct time. These new technologies provide families with a greater sense of comfort, knowing that their elder loved ones will have an easier time accessing help when they need it the most.