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.
Gerontech Products We Wish Existed
Here are some high-impact, gerontechnology product concepts that do not yet exist as commercially available products — although the technology to enable them already largely exists. Our hope for products like these: to significantly postpone the time at which frailty and functional disability get in the way of "living life".
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).
Idea / Challenge
Hi there! I want to start off by saying that if it wasn't for this community and the instructions on how to use the Amazon Echo and set up the device for a person without a smartphone, my family and I wouldn't have been able to interact with my father this past year while he was in skilled care... ....... Read more
Better Bra for Older Women
Our Longevity Explorers have been engaged in a brainstorming session about bra's for older adults — ignited by a challenge from explorer Marly. .........Read more
Better Bra for Older Women
Our Longevity Explorers have been engaged in a brainstorming session about bra's for older adults — ignited by a challenge from explorer Marly. .........Read more
Better Bra for Older Women
Our Longevity Explorers have been engaged in a brainstorming session about bra's for older adults — ignited by a challenge from explorer Marly. .........Read more
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
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
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iGPS Phoenix Watch
The iGPS Phoenix Watch is intended to be worn by older adults or children and - when paired with the app - to keep track of their movements, signal departure from a designated location, and provide cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connections where available.
WellBe
WellBe from HandsFree Health is a virtual healthcare assistant, which comes in a smart speaker and, optionally, with a modern-looking, smartwatch-type medical alert.
HomeThrive
Home Thrive is an online service provider designed to provide access to a dedicated social worker and a digital platform with advice, tools, and supportive services to help family members care for an older adult at home.
Bed MadeEZ
Bed MadeEZ is a set of wedges designed to raise the edge of a mattress so the linens can be changed without incurring a lifting injury.
LifePod
LifePod is a wireless system of communication and feedback intended to help designated family, friends and caregivers using voice contact and messaging between the users.
BoundaryCare
BoundaryCare is an iOS app intended to keep track of an Apple watch wearer's whereabouts and to display movement and location information on one or more iPhones using the app.
HomeEXCEPT
HomeExcept is a Canadian company producing non-intrusive monitoring solutions intended to measure mobility, medication, assists, and toileting without the use of cameras or microphones.
Because Incontinence Products
Because offers home delivery of specially designed incontinence products.
Dementia Tracker GPS Watch by TechSilver
The TechSilver Dementia Tracker GPS watch is intended to provide cell phone features indoors and outdoors and an adjustable GPS 'safe zone' wander alert. .
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