When it comes to keeping older loved ones safe and happy in their own homes, the so-called “little things” actually mean a lot. What if we had special socks that helped prevent their wearers from falling and specially designed smartphones designed to make the digital world more manageable for seniors? Even better, what if we had entire shopping centers focused around older adults’ needs and wants?
And what about the ultimate social network, a time-based system of helping community seniors? This system would give you the security of knowing that you can “cash in” your credits on an hour-for-hour basis when your time comes to need elder care services.
By the year 2050, seniors are expected to make up 20% of the United States population, so we would be wise to look at making these and other creative elder care ideas a reality.
Luckily, these innovations are not pie-in-the-sky. They all exist today in Japan, a country with one of the highest life expectancy rates in the world. With one in five residents a senior (expected to increase to one in three by 2035), Japan has faced the challenges associated with an aging population, and is coming out ahead of the pack. Read on for more details, courtesy of Senior Planet:
- Caring Relationship Tickets: Imagine a type of currency worth an hour of service for the elderly. Japan has instituted such a system that allows anyone to earn tickets by helping a senior in the community, and then in turn, cash them in for an hour of service for themselves when needed.
- Specially Designed Smartphones: Easier for older eyes and fingers to navigate, these phones will even allow the user to slow down the speech of a caller to better hear and understand.
- Senior-Friendly Shopping Centers: Comprised of all things senior – diabetes checks, bifocals, anti-aging creams, groceries with larger printed price tags, even hula and yoga classes and a dating service – this idea has proven to be a huge success.
- Fall-Defying Socks: Catching a toe on an uneven carpet or flooring is one of the leading causes of falls resulting in serious injuries. To combat this, these socks pull upward on the toes to ensure that they lift off the floor with each step.
Even though these helpful products aren’t yet a reality in the United States, caring, professional in-home care is as close as your phone. For more information on how we can help keep your loved ones safe or for answers to any of your home care questions, call Independence-4-Seniors Home Care at (630) 323-4665. Contact us to learn more about our home care services in the Chicago suburbs, including Cook, DuPage, Will and Kane counties.