Alzheimer’s is a devastating, life altering and ultimately chronic condition that can take a terrible toll on a family. This condition is caused by changes in the neurons of the brain, known as amyloid plaques and tangles, which can render entire brain areas inert or simply cause serious damage.
Over time, this gets worse and sufferers find themselves being affected in a number of different ways: from developing tremors and ticks, to becoming forgetful, to getting lost, to losing fine motor control, to experiencing changes in personality.
But while this is a tragic illness, the good news is that it is now more manageable than ever before and many of those diagnosed are still able to enjoy a full and happy life for a long time after.
Here are some technologies that can help.
GPS Tracking
One of the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s is a tendency to get lost if they head out on their own, where they might not have done previously. This can be dangerous of course, not to mention distressing, which is why it’s so important to find ways to help them. Using a GPS tracking device can help them to navigate, as well as helping loved ones to find them should something go wrong.
Reminders
Those suffering with Alzheimer’s will likely have many different pills they need to take to keep on top of their illness. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to miss those medications when you have an impaired memory – or worse to take too many. Therefore devices that beep and even keep count, can help to avoid this problem while also being informative for carers.
Medical Alert Systems
Perhaps the most important technology is the medical alert system. This is a small device that can be worn and that will then alert a medical response team – or loved ones – should the person fall or should their vitals change. This is especially important as the condition progresses. You can find a range of these at BayAlarmMedical.com.
Setting Up Your System
When you get your medical alert system, it’s important to set it up and get it ready for use so that it will be on your person when you need it. The idea behind these devices is to provide you with a means of contacting the emergency services in case you should have a fall or attack of some kind – if it’s sitting in the box when that happens, it won’t be able to do its job!
So how do you go about setting up your medical alert system so that you and your loved ones can rest easy knowing you’re protected?
The first thing to recognise is that of course all devices are different. It is important you do your research on each and every device before investing in the right one. Depending on the make and model of the unit you’ve purchased, there will likely be some specifics to the set-up process that will require you to consult with the instruction manual.
For the most part though, set-up will be simple. In some cases the units will come in two pieces, in which case you will need to plug it into your landline and then keep the other on your person. In other cases, the device will have its own signal in which case set-up is even simpler.
Add batteries into your unit and then place it around your neck, wrist or belt as appropriate.
Tips
Note that if they wear their alarm like a pendant, you should always encourage them to wear it over their shirt. This way, if they fall on their front, they won’t have to rummage underneath their clothes to get it out.
Another tip is to consider getting a key safe for a spare key that you can keep outside your loved one’s home. This way, medical services or family members won’t need to kick down your door in case of an emergency. It also helps if they lose their own key.
Finally, look for a test button or battery light and run regular tests to ensure everything is working properly.
Alzheimer’s is a cruel disease and one that can be hard for loved ones to deal with just as much, if not more, than the sufferer themselves. It’s good to know that technologies such as these are continuing to be developed so that quality and ease of life can be optimised.
*collaborative post
