Inventions that may assist seniors and caregivers

People are constantly developing new products to assist seniors who have a variety of conditions. From those who have Alzheimer’s disease to those that are looking to track their daily exercise habits. 

Here are two innovative products which may become available in retirement communities in the future.

  §  The Parkinson's Cup
Lily Born was tired of watching her grandfather struggle with his drinking cup, as he had an advanced form of Parkinson's disease. Instead of watching her grandfather suffer in silence, Lily designed a cup that would allow the drinker to have full control of the liquid without having to worry about spilling or breaking. Lily created the cup, enlisting her father's assistance to develop a prototype, and funded the entire project on Kickstarter. Even more amazing? She was only 11 years old at the time!

Lily spoke to Co.Design about her "Kangaroo Cup," explaining that it was originally ceramic, but she switched to plastic after discovering the material was more stable. She added that her grandfather was an integral part of the design process.

They were using hand-mouldable plastic at home and then clay at a pottery studio. She was able to hand those cups right over to her grandpa to use, and it was very easy to see if it was comfortable or not.

The cups are currently available in sets of four, but Lily hopes they will become more widely adopted in the future.

  §  Shoe implant for seniors with Alzheimer's
Tracking technology has helped many caregivers and family members keep track of aging loved ones who have dementia or Alzheimer's and have wandered in the past.

Professor Andrew Carle from George Mason University and a shoemaker from GTX combined forces to develop a GPS insert for the shoes of seniors suffering from memory loss. Carle explained to the Washington Post that the new device may be helpful for caregivers, as the sole can easily be moved between multiple pairs of shoes.

However, the Alzheimer Society of Canada does recommend that caregivers carefully consider this option before adopting the device, as it may unnecessarily infringe upon a senior's independence.

Many of these revolutionary inventions are ideal for older adults and caregivers, as they may assist seniors in their daily lives!

At Pinelands Grove Retirement Village, your dream of a vibrant community establishment can become a reality! Book your place today and enjoy the finer elements of life.