Caregiving with home health technologies
Dorothy said it best when she said, “there’s no place like home!” As we, our parents, and loved ones age, one of the biggest concerns is the need to leave home because more care and support are needed. Most older adults just want to stay at home! More and more resources are now available to provide the support needed to remain at home as long as possible.
In the last few years there has been an explosion of technologies designed to support an older adult to age in place. You may ask, “How do I know what is out there? How would I know what to look for?” It can be daunting to think about beginning that search. The Lutheran Home Association has a solution for you!
Through a grant from the Dept. of 
Human Services Live Well at Home program, TLHA took on the task of building a website to help anyone searching for technology resources make that task easier. It is a virtual one-stop-
shop. The MN Home Health Technology Center (MHHTC) is designed to help determine what is needed and to match those needs to the appropriate technology tools. Informing and educating older adults and caregivers on the importance, benefits, and choices in utilizing home health technology products to help improve quality of life and lower overall healthcare expenses is the mission of MHHTC.
Resources on MHHTC:
- Introduction to technologies, matching technologies to need and steps to take to bring those technologies into the home
- Links to the MN Live Well at Home Assessment tools to determine the risk factors most likely to cause older adults across America to move from home permanently to an assisted living or nursing home setting.
- The ability to search for technologies by condition or device
- Interactive home technology tour
- Resources for additional supports
Some of the technology available include:
- Medication dispensers that remind the individual to take their medications while automatically dispensing the proper medication and dose
- Health and Safety monitoring technologies that track activity and notify the caregiver of changes in activities of daily living, such as eating and sleeping
- Sensors that are programmable to notify caregiver that something is amiss
- Vitals monitoring equipment that sends readings directly to a caregiver
- Technologies that provide for social engagement
- Brain fitness activities
- GPS devices that can alert a caregiver that a person with dementia has wondered away from their familiar surroundings
With the boom in the numbers of older adults, fewer caregivers, and rising costs of healthcare, innovative ways to care for your loved ones in the comfort of their home is essential. MHHTC can help navigate through the task of finding just the right tools.
The mtthc.org website was supported in part, by a CS/SD grant from Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). Points of view or opinions do not necessarily represent official DHS policy.