Meres ‘Mack’ McCarroll
Dear Readers, The past year has been filled with unexpected life challenges and deep heart ache. Many of you know that my mother-in-law passed unexpectedly…
13 Lessons for Aging In Place Your Way
As we live longer we are changing how we define old. It does not necessarily mean feeble, ailing or dependent as Meika Loe discusses in…
The New Opportunity of Old Age
Joseph Coughlin, Director of the MIT Agelab, gives a talk at TEDx Boston: Aging As An Extreme Sport. "Aging is not for wimps. Think about…
Age In Place,ADA Home Modifications: Should They Be Taxed?
Logical or illogical is the question asked by retired OT Cheryl Tiezen: The citizens of Missouri are taxed extra on their real property for functional additions to their homes that enable aging in place.
Is Older Happier?
It is according to William Falk, Editor of The Week: Thank God I’m no longer in my 20s. Back then, I was so full of…
Should Visitability Be A Federal Law?
Visitability is an important strategy for developing accessible housing. It can contribute to creating neighborhoods and communities that welcome everyone. There is a huge market of 78.2 million Baby Boomers who may soon need affordable and accessible homes. Designing homes with open floor plans, U-shaped kitchens with maneuvering space for food preparation, bathrooms with [...]
Gibbons’ First Five Health Technology Trends for 2010
Chris Gibbons, Associate Director, John Hopkins Urban Health Institute: "If we are serious about developing technology solutions for healthcare problems, we must have a greater focus on the users (patients, caregivers as well as providers) and their problems, issues, needs and concerns. We must then use this information to develop effective technology solutions for user defined needs." Following are his first 5 predictions for 2010 healthcare technology trends:
Is the UK out in front of others, including the US, when it comes to smart homes, telecare and telehealthcare technology adoption?
George MacGinnis on the difference between telecare and telehealth: In terms of telecare we think of tele-social care. The main focus is on managing risks to peoples’ lives. They might have a panic button, a fall sensor and these might be people who are suffering from dementia. There are risks that they might leave the oven on and create a fire, so there are remote control fire detectors or remote gas shut off valves, etc. Whereas [telehealth] is much more about chronic disease management: Diabetics might be checking their sugar, others might be checking peak flows, blood pressure or weighing themselves and answering questions about their health.