Basics of Life (p1):
Research, explorations, discussions, and products and resources relating to Basics of Life: from Tech-enhanced Life.
Activities of daily living, and where to live.
For Older Adults, their Families, and Caregivers
— and for Companies Creating Innovations Related to Aging.
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Analysis & Exploration | Explorer Discussions | Resources and Products shared by our Explorers.
Featured Guides & Reports: Basics of Life
The "Useful Apps Club" for Older Adults
Unlock the potential of your smartphone or tablet to improve your life.
The "Useful Apps Club" is for older adults and Boomers who have a smartphone or tablet (or are thinking of getting one) and need help to turn it into a useful tool. We are focused on finding Apps that can change your life, and teaching you how to use them.
Medical Alert Systems: Help!
We kept getting asked "which medical alert system is best?"; and "how do I choose the right medical alert system for me?". This independent, objective, hands-on research tries to answer those questions. If you are looking for a medical alert system, either for yourself or for an older adult such as a parent, this piece of research is for you.
Caring from Afar: Guide to Home Sensor Systems
Read our report on this new category of products, designed to help seniors stay at home longer, and to help their families worry about them less. There are important lessons to be learned about which ones work, and for which types of circumstance they are optimal.
Sensors, Dementia, Safety: Real World Experiences
Using a handful of simple, non-intrusive sensors, retired engineer Bob Glicksman has been able to learn all sorts of important things about the daily routine of an elderly person, who has cognitive impairment, and for whom he cares. He has been able to make multiple successful interventions to stave off what might have otherwise been serious adverse events. In fact, this simple sensor setup has worked better than he expected, and he shares his experiences, as an example of a real world use case in which a small addition of technology can accomplish a lot.
Cohousing: The Power of Community
Cohousing: The power of community. Thoughts from a cohousing pioneer.
Retirement Living Options
When it comes to retirement living options, the question of whether to stay at home or to move often looms large. Here are the things to consider so you make the right decision.
Caring for & Dealing with Elderly Parents: The Books
In a previous article I did a little research to find the 10 "best selling" books on the topic of Aging Parents (on Amazon). I have now waded through them all, and in this article I summarize my impressions of the different books, in the hope that you can leverage my work so you need only focus on the ones that seem most useful for you.
Best Books on Aging Parents
Over the last 18 months I have talked with literally hundreds of people who have realized they now have an extra "job" that they were not expecting: engaging one way or another in looking out for an aging parent. Many of them wanted a "guide" to Caring for Aging Parents, and asked for recommendations. Sure enough, there are a number of books on aging parents on Amazon. I decided I wanted to find the most popular, and then read them and see whether I could identify a handful of them to recommend next time someone asks for a Guide to Aging Parents. This article is the first installment in my journey and focuses on which are the top selling books in this category (presumably the ones others have found most relevant).
My Plans for Avoiding the Terror of Short Term Memory Loss
My mother has severe short term memory loss. As her caregiver, I have found that her short term memory impairment has many adverse consequences. My experience with my mother has made me concerned about how I could avoid the horrors that come with short term memory loss when it inevitably hits me in the future.
While I cannot prevent short term memory loss, I do believe that I can mitigate the confusion and anxiety that comes with not being able to mentally track my daily activities. My solution is a simple technological memory prosthesis – a “wearable” calendar. This article describes my idea and how I am implementing it.
How to Know When to Stop Driving: AAA Talk
How to Know When to Stop Driving, John Paul, guest speaker from AAA Northeast by Longevity Explorers: Recent @ Providence
“People outlive their driving ability by eight to ten years,” said John Paul, the guest speaker from AAA Northeast. Without alternatives, giving up driving can... .........Read more
Meals: Potential Challenges for Living at Home
San Francisco Explorers discuss how planning and preparing meals might interfere with living independently. .........Read more
I Want to Do My Own Driving Evaluation
Explorer Ron frames the question: "How does one decide whether or not to continue driving?" Should it be one's self, or someone else? .........Read more
Explorers' Field Report on Use of Toenail Clippers
Eskaton Village explorers took home an array of toenail clippers and returned with a report of their findings. .........Read more
Hoarding Behaviors Described and Discussed
Explorer Nicolas speaks about his aging mother in law, who is starting late in life to hoard plastic bags to the degree it is becoming ‘overboard’ in terms of the accumulation. .........Read more
Hand Tremor Stabilizer Reported
Explorer Arthur reports on reading an article about a glove designed to cancel hand tremors by integrating a gyroscope. .........Read more
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The Gilhoolie Jar Opener
The Gilhoolie Jar Opener is a device intended to make easy work of opening tight jar lids and bottle caps.
Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers
This is a book about planning retirement for those aging alone (solo agers). One of our explorers brought it along to a meeting and recommends it.
CallToU Caregiver Call Button
CallToU is a wireless call system intended for indoor use to alert the intended helper that assistance is needed by the user.
Mom's New Pad
Mom's New Pad is a California Bay Area senior referral and relocation service designed to address all of the major roadblocks to downsizing and moving.
Caring - the App
Caring is a smartphone app designed to help organize the information that designated family and friends are likely to need when caring for a friend or family member.
TRiLOC SafeTracks GPS Watch
This wrist worn device detects wandering and notifies of falls.
The Wellbeing Monitor
The Wellbeing Monitor is a smartphone app that is intended to set up a private communication tool for use by elders and selected family or friends to check in and help assure an elder's well being.
Vivint Smart Home
Vivint offers a Vivint app designed to coordinate an array of off the shelf home monitoring and security devices compatible with Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant and controlled via the Vivint app.
Livpact
Livpact is a connected platform using wireless devices and 'off the shelf' AI hardware intended to to organize and connect family, friends, professional support, community services and helpful resources.
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