We send you off to your weekend fun with more information about technology for seniors:
"GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. announced today that they expect pent-up demand for their cost effective, home based eldercare personal robots. This new type of modern eldercare will postpone, if not eliminate, many elderly persons from having to endure the loneliness and loss of independence when living in nursing homes, and other assisted living facilities. Their families can now better manage the difficult decisions regarding independence they allow their now dependent aged parent while minimizing the concern and risk the adult caregiving child is willing to assume to enable an acceptable level of independence for their now dependent parent. GeckoSystems is a dynamic leader in the emerging Mobile Service Robot industry revolutionizing their development and usage with "Mobile Robot Solutions for Safety, Security and Service™."
"For the last several years, the US eldercare crisis is commonly portrayed as 'not happening' until the baby boomers reach the age of great reliance on their children and younger family members. The truth of the matter, since the US is the only country in the top ten of the world's industrialized nations without national healthcare, is that we really don't have solid statistics for our true 'bottom line' annual US eldercare costs. Many middle class baby boomers are presently suffering significant financial, time and emotional pressures attempting to care for their surviving WWII and Korean War era parents," observed Martin Spencer, President/CEO, GeckoSystems.
Not coincidentally, Gecko estimates the market for multi-tasking eldercare robots to reach $80 billion by 2013... I love the profit motive and hope they get rich helping seniors...
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And maybe tekkies will turn all seniors into die-hard video gamers: "WHEN Pip Carter and the team at St Andrew’s in Ballina developed a new interactive technology at the nursing home, they were only thinking of the benefits if would give to residents who aren’t able to leave their beds.
But the system, in which a video camera and other technology similar including an Xbox is used to relay events like church services and activites like bingo – with the residents being also able to join in by phone – has gained interest internationally."
"“Imagine the feeling of being a resident bed-bound and not being able to become involved in activities being carried out throughout the facility or being able to be part of church services which meet your spiritual needs in the later years of your life,” he wrote in the abstract submitted to the conference organisers.
“Advanced technology in care and assisted living will address many issues of isolation and inclusiveness and feeling part of a community again.”
He said technology in the past 50 years has become a fundamental part of our lifestyle.
“It is essential that organisations grow and develop new technologies for the very purpose of allowing people to once again feel alive and make life worth living,” he wrote.
He said he believed St Andrew’s is the first home of its size to use this kind of technology, which had a set-up cost of about $4000."
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