High-Tech Products for Caregiving

If you’re taking care of an aging relative who’s living alone, you know how much you worry. And if you aren’t in the same town – or even the same state – you know how difficult and frightening that can be. But caretakers do have options to make the process safer. ThirdAge spoke to Susan Garland, editor of "Kiplinger’s Retirement Report," and got her picks, first published in the Report, for the best products.

Susan says that the products are not for people with Alzheimer’s, but for seniors who “would rather live by themselves and be independent” but who may need some assistance. For example, they may not always remember to take their medicine or may be liable to fall.

But, Susan cautions, don’t expect these products to solve caregiving problems all by themselves. If you live near the person you’re caring for, you’ll need to monitor the devices and visit regularly. And if you’re far away, Susan says, it’s best if you hire a geriatric-care manager, or asking a neighbor or close friend who lives nearby, to monitor the devices and check in on the person. In the meantime, you can also monitor the devices yourself from a distance. When you suggest these products, you may be in for a difficult conversation with the person you’re caring for. Go slowly and emphasize the peace of mind that you will have. “Say, ‘I’m doing it for myself,’” Susan suggests.

With all that in mind, here are some products "Kiplinger’s Retirement Report" recommends:

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A Monitoring System A comprehensive in-house monitoring system, like GrandCare (www.grandcare.com) pictured here, will show a constantly updated information stream via a webpage to a caregiver who can monitor it. The monitoring system uses sensors, not cameras, to record changes like a medicine cabinet not being opened at the right time. When that happens, an email is automatically sent to the caregiver via text, email or phone. Additionally, the system provides a touch screen for sites like Facebook and Skype that enable the person to keep up with his or her family. The cost is about $500 for installation and $100 per month.

A Lifesaving Link A comprehensive system from Care Innovations (www.careinnovations.com) allows the patient to press a button and talk with an operator who will call caregiving contacts, and police and medical help when necessary. If the patient can't talk because of an accident, a press of a button will activate the previously specified "No Voice" instruction. Cost: $24.95 per month.

A Medical Alert We’re familiar with the alert device that people can press so others will know they have fallen, but the newest versions of these devices--like the Phillips LifeLine with Auto Alert, pictured here--also indicate to caregivers that the person has fallen even if the button isn’t pressed. With the Phillips device, if the person who’s fallen hasn’t pressed the alert button within 30 seconds, an alarm is sent to a call center. They in turn ask via a speaker if everything’s OK and send emergency services if there’s no response. The service is $49 a month (www.phillips.lifelinesystem.com).

A Medication Dispenser Taking medicine consistently is one of the most basic and important components of living independently. The Phillips Medication Dispensing Service (www.managemypills.com) operates the same way a vending machine does – dropping the correct number of pills into a cup when it’s time to take the medicine. It also flashes a red light and says, “Time to take your medication. “ If the alert isn’t shut off and the pills aren’t removed after 90 minutes, the dispenser sends the caregiver an alert. The device rents from $59 to $77 per month.

GPS Shoes A miniature GPS device within the shoes made by the Aetrex Navistar GPS Footwear System (www.aetrexnavistargpsshoe.com) actually tracks where a person is going after leaving the house. Although they might sound extreme, the shoes can provide reassurance that the person will not get lost. Caregivers should make sure that other shoes are removed from the closet. The cost is $300, plus a monthly monitoring fee of $35 to $40, "Kiplinger’s Retirement Report" says.

A Helpful Phone If the person you’re caring for has difficulty remembering phone numbers, a special phone can make calling easier. This Memory Phone ($65, alzstore.com) allows you to put photos of a caretaker, friends and relatives on the dialing pad so the person can just press the right photo. The keypad also has large numbers for ease of dialing the regular way.

A Kitchen Safeguard Automatic stove shut-off devices can help avoid dangerous and even fatal accidents. Devices like these shut off the stove after sensors record that someone has left the kitchen for a certain amount of time. Pictured: Cook-Stop 3-in-1 plug-in kit (www.cookstop.com; $359 to $395)

A Bathroom Safety Device A plumber can install a device known as a Flowban, which stops faucets that have been left on. It costs about $270.

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