Devices, Tools, Objects relating to better quality life as grow older.
As we socially distance during this time of stress, it is only natural for each of us to think about & be thankful for our true blessings, our family, friends, & the many things in the world around us that make life worth living. Some of you may write these down in a journal. About … Read more
About a year ago, my wife and I were on a Facetime call with my son and his family who are far away in Tennessee. Two grandsons crowded to be seen on the iPhone screen while the third grandson sat on his dad's lap. Due to the close quarters, when the little fellow lept up excitedly … Read more
While staying at home for weeks or months on end is hard for everyone, older adults have some unique challenges. And as the enforced lockdown winds down eventually, those over 70 are likely to be the last to see a return to “normal” life. We created this page so members of the Tech-enhanced Life community … Read more
Now that we are all “sheltering in place”, finding ways to interact virtually with people from our homes has rocketed up people’s priority list. We have had quite a few emails now from people wanting to know the best way to have video calls with their family and friends. Here are some thoughts to help … Read more
Caption: Variety of pill dispensers and smart pill boxes under evaluation. | Back row L-R: Pria, Hero, MedaCube, Philips, Tabsafe, Livi. Front row L-R: GMS, MedMinder, MedReady, CompuMed. When a person starts having trouble adhering to the medication routine prescribed by their doctor — or when they or their caregiver or spouse start finding … Read more
Caption: Left: MedaCube; Right: Hero; Top middle: MedMinder; Bottom middle: GMS. It is too simplistic to talk of the “best automatic pill dispenser“. But it is definitely appropriate to talk about the “best medication dispenser for a specific individual or life situation“. Different Life Situations Need Different Pill Dispensers This is Part 2 of … Read more
We have an ongoing initiative researching the tools that are available to help manage medication, and avoid the complications that accompany poor adherence.
Our most recent research is a hands-on evaluation of a variety of complex medication management systems. In the past we have also researched less complex ways to manage medications, including pill boxes and medication reminders.
There are many, many pill boxes and pill organizer solutions to choose from in your local drugstore or on Amazon. Unsurprisingly, not all of them are equally good. The Longevity Explorers have strong views about what to look for in a pill box. Here are their recommendations, and a list of the “things to watch for”. … Read more
For plus size older women, it is impossible to find a bra that is easy to put on (ie front-closing, preferably a sturdy zipper rather than hooks), has cap sleeves so that straps do not create constant shoulder abrasions, is cut high to actually offer support to the whole breast, has good back support, and … Read more
Perhaps it seems counterintuitive that an artificial intelligence(AI) might help combat loneliness and isolation. But as our Longevity Explorers evaluate the latest version of Alexa, paired with the Amazon Echo Show, which has an excellent video call capability, we are starting to see great potential for these products to do just that.
And while there are a variety of initiatives evaluating the potential of interactions between older adults and Alexa (Amazon’s artificial intelligence) as a way to reduce loneliness, we think the communication capabilities of the Echo Show may make possible deeper human to human interactions (with friends and family for example) as well.