As a human being, they are bound to age and get old. The most important thing is growing old gracefully. But as our parents age, our primary instinct is to watch over them while respecting their autonomy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 30% of people aged 65 and older experience falls each year. This is a statistic that makes every child worried about their parents.
But no worries. There are solutions to track and take care of elderly parents. In this guide, we will talk about why and when tracking elderly parents is beneficial, examine the legal landscape surrounding such monitoring, and review the top methods available to families today.
Why Track an Aging Parent?
Now, you are wondering why you should track your elderly parents. In simple words, you do it to take care of them and make sure they don’t fall or miss their medicines. Tracking your parents will give you safety assurance, a chance of health and wellness monitor, and peace of mind that you won’t get anywhere. Let’s take a dive and look at them below:
Safety First
In a matter of seconds, elderly people could be at risk from an accident at home or while outside. According to a caretaker in Aging care, “Jim was an elderly man with Alzheimer’s disease and would wander around. One night, Jim wandered out late at night, fell in the street, and hit his head on the pavement. When he was found, and 911 was called, he lived another 12 hours before dying of a subdural hematoma to the skull. Had the daughter had a tracking device, Jim still would’ve hit his head and died that night, unfortunately.”
In this case, a tracking system would help a lot as it would provide the following:
• Rapid Response: With real-time location data, first responders or family members can arrive quickly when a fall or accident occurs.
• Location Alerts: Some devices alert caregivers if the wearer leaves a predefined safe area. This prevents the elderly from any wandering incidents.
A report from the CDC indicates that timely intervention can drastically reduce the severity of injuries from falls, ultimately saving lives and reducing hospital stays.
Health and Wellness Monitoring
Tracking the elderly and their health helps detect their declining physical and mental health. And this is very important. Let’s look at how they can be important:
• Memory and Cognitive Decline: You can use the tracking date to look for their mental health signs. You can see that signs such as confusion or memory loss might indicate conditions like dementia. You or caregivers can monitor and notice these changes early and seek medical advice.
• Mobility Issues: Growing old comes with health challenges like reduced bone density. This could change walking patterns or hesitation while moving around and signal deteriorating balance or muscle strength. Tracking devices can monitor these movements and record data that might be useful for doctors.
• Routine Health Tracking: You can use a fall detection watch that offers routine health tracking and additional features, such as heart rate monitoring, which can help detect anomalies before they turn into severe health issues.
Research in geriatric care consistently shows that early interventions, prompted by regular monitoring, often improve seniors’ outcomes and quality of life.
Emotional Peace of Mind
For family members, the stress is overwhelming. When they don’t know if their elderly loved one is safe or not, it can be overwhelming:
• Reduced Anxiety: Thanks to tracking, they get regular updates and alerts. This can provide comfort by keeping loved ones in the loop.
• Empowerment: With continuous monitoring, families feel more empowered to act quickly if something goes wrong, reducing feelings of helplessness.
All these safety, health tracking, and emotional support are why many families consider a tracking system for the elderly.
When Should You Monitor an Elderly Parent?
You should monitor your aging elderly parents when you see changes in their health, mood, or home environment. But it can be tricky and sensitive.
Your goal is to protect their well-being without compromising their independence. Here are some clear indicators that it might be time to introduce a tracking solution:
Decline in Mental Function
• Memory lapses or confusion become more frequent.
• Difficulty following conversations or instructions.
• Increased forgetfulness that affects daily routines.
Increasing Health Concerns
• Chronic conditions such as heart disease or diabetes require regular monitoring.
• Noticeable decrease in mobility or physical strength.
• Recurrent incidents of dizziness or fainting spells.
Difficulty Operating a Vehicle
• Signs that your parents struggle with the complexities of driving.
• Instances of getting lost or delayed while navigating familiar routes.
• Increased risk of traffic-related accidents due to slower reflexes.
Consistently Missing Appointments or Daily Routines
• Regularly forgetting scheduled meetings, medical appointments, or even meal times.
• Disruptions in daily routines that previously went smoothly.
• Isolation or changes in social behavior that might indicate underlying issues.
Is It Legal to Track an Aging Parent?
Before you decide to track your aging parents, you should consider ethical and legal issues. You have to inform them and obtain their consent before implementing any tracking device.
You should consider their consent and privacy, legal framework, and resources for legal guidance. Let’s take a look at each of them now:
Consent and Privacy
• Obtaining Consent: You should discuss your tracking solution with your parents and obtain their consent. If you don’t get their mutual agreement, it can violate their trust and legacy.
• Privacy Rights: Elders have individual privacy rights. So, your tracking system has to respect their rights, with clear boundaries set for data usage. Violating them could cost you monetary fines or even jail time.
• Transparency: Keep a clear and transparent communication with the elderly. Tell them what kind of data will be collected, who will have access to it, and how it will be used. Transparency builds trust and reduces concerns over surveillance.
Legal Framework
• Regional Laws: Tracking laws are different from region to region. Some regions or jurisdictions demand explicit consent for monitoring, while others could have softer regulations for family caregivers.
• Data Protection: The devices you have chosen to collect location or health data must comply with data protection regulations, such as HIPAA in the United States or GDPR in Europe. These laws are designed to safeguard personal information.
• Guidelines for Elder Care: Some elder care advocacy groups provide guidelines on the ethical use of monitoring devices. You can join and learn from there, especially when you have no prior knowledge.
Top 3 Best Options To Track Your Elderly Parents
We have modern technologies that offer a lot of tracking solutions designed to assist with elderly care. You can choose to use phone tracking, GPS watch tracking, and a camera for monitoring.
Option 1: Use a Phone App
First on our list is mobile app tracking. They have become popular for tracking the elderly because of their affordability and ease of use.
Key Features
• Real-Time Tracking: Most apps will give location updates. You can use that to see your parent’s whereabouts at all times.
• Emergency Alerts: Many apps have built-in panic buttons that instantly alert family members or emergency services in case of an incident.
• Geofencing Capabilities: You can set virtual boundaries that trigger alerts if your parent leaves a designated safe area.
Benefits
• User-Friendly Interface: The design of these apps is intuitive and straightforward. This makes the interface easy to use for both the user and the caregiver.
• Cost-Effective: Most tracking apps require a minimal subscription fee compared to hardware-based solutions.
• Widespread Availability: Available on Android and iOS platforms, giving accessibility regardless of the smartphone model.
Option 2: Use a GPS Watch Tracker
A GPS watch tracker is a wearable device. It offers monitoring with additional features specifically designed for elderly care.
Key Features
• Wearable Design: They are discreet and comfortable to wear. These devices are designed to be worn throughout the day without causing discomfort.
• Continuous Monitoring: Provides ongoing data on location and, in some models, vital signs like heart rate and step count.
• Emergency SOS Button: It can feature an easily accessible SOS button that connects the wearer directly to emergency services.
Benefits
• Hands-Free Operation: It eliminates the need to carry a smartphone, making it especially useful for those who may forget to bring their phone.
• Health Monitoring: Some devices offer additional health tracking capabilities, providing insight into physical activity and overall well-being.
• Durability: Designed to be water-resistant and durable, these watches can withstand daily wear and tear.
Option 3: Use Camera for Monitoring
In a home environment, Cameras are a better choice. They effectively track the daily activities and well-being of an elderly parent in the home setting.
Key Features
• Remote Visual Monitoring: Family members can check in visually on their parents without being physically present with a camera system installed in the house.
• Motion Detection: You can set up alerts to notify you if there is unusual movement or none at all during expected active periods.
• Two-Way Communication: Many camera systems include a feature for two-way communication, letting you speak directly to your parents if necessary.
Benefits
• Visual Verification: Cameras provide a direct look at your parent’s environment and activities. In return, You get reassurance that they are safe.
• Routine Checks: Cameras help monitor daily routines and confirm that your parents follow a regular schedule.
• Adaptability: You can integrate them into a broader home security system, offering additional layers of safety.
Closing Thoughts
The best practical solution for physical and mental safety and security is monitoring the elderly parents. Families can safeguard their loved ones by staying updated on available technology, understanding legal guidelines, and recognizing the signs that suggest monitoring is necessary.
The next step is to assess your family’s needs and discuss the chances of monitoring with your elderly parent. This will reduce anxiety and create a safer environment. You can choose any of the three options, from a phone tracking app to a GPS watch wearable tracking device and using cameras to monitor the home environment. So take your chance now and prioritize safety for your elderly parents now.
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