My relative had a close call when she collapsed in her garage and was unable to get up. Her daughter-in-law found her after noticing that she was missing from the house, which was unusual for her. She recovered from the ordeal, but it was a frightening experience for everyone. Mrs. Kong, a friend of my mom, was not so fortunate. She slipped in her basement and hit her head on the hard floor. The head injury was fatal, and her husband discovered her body too late. These tragic incidents show why seniors should not be left alone for long periods of time without someone checking on them, especially when they are outside their house.
One of the challenges of aging is to stay safe and connected with our loved ones. Many seniors carry a cell phone or a panic button to alert someone in case of an emergency. However, these devices may not always work or be accessible when needed. That’s why we created CareRinger, an automated check-in service that monitors and communicates with seniors who live alone. iBeacon is a standard developed by Apple© that allows wearables to send digital signals to nearby devices. CareRinger provides an iBeacon wearable that can trigger a check-in call and notifications when the wearer leaves their safe place. This way, you can always know if your loved ones are safe and sound, and reach out to them if something seems wrong.
My friend M.C. passed away from Alzheimer’s disease. She enjoyed daily walks, but she often got lost and needed assistance from the neighbors. Her husband cared for her, but it was difficult for both of them. She had a flip phone, but it was not helpful as her memory declined. I wish she had access to some of the wearable technologies we discuss here. They could have made life easier for her and her family in many ways.
CareRinger is looking for partners who are interested in using monitoring technologies to improve their care for their elderly clients, and to act as their reliable contact if they are away from their home when they need to. Please get in touch with us to discuss the opportunities to keep our seniors healthy and safe.
About the author: Henry is a former-telecommunications professional, now attending to the needs of elderly people. For years, he has been teaching senior-friendly technologies in his local communities. He is an inventor and Founder of CareRinger, Inc., and holds patents on methods that apply to his service. He is currently a senior volunteer program Advisory Board member and a commissioner for the Council on Aging in the City of Thousand Oaks ('21-'23).
CareRinger is a Dementia-Friendly Organization
