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Lee Lanier
I am a Baby Boomer at 61 years old... considered young by some, old by others. I feel fortunate to have experienced many wonderful things so far in my life. I have witnessed the advent of television. A "dresser drawer" sized cabinet with rabbit ears and an 8 inch screen; it was a 3 channel wonder that only broadcast in black and white at certain times of the day. I didn't even mind that I had to get out of my chair to "channel surf". Today, we have hundreds of channels broadcasting in vibrant colors and High Definition, 24 hours a day at the push of a button. However, our insatiable desire for more information and convenience continues to drive this technology forward, as in all areas where technology can improve our lives. We don't have daily deliveries of milk anymore, we carry our phones in our pockets, we shop "online" and we can travel across a continent in a matter of a few hours.
We are also living longer, benefiting from the same explosion of technological advancements. As a result, caring for our parents and the elderly of our communities has become a growing challenge of the past several generations.
In years past, families cared for their elders in the home. Extended families were the norm and many generations lived under the same roof. Most likely you were born, grew up and eventually died in the same town, often the same house. The answer to extended elder and/or medical care was "built in".
Life has changed along with its demands. We work longer hours. We move around the country with ease, relocating with the knowledge that we are only a plane ride away. We watch our children mature and look forward to the day when they will go out on their own and start their own families. And many times, just as that is happening, our parents are entering a stage in their lives when they begin to need some help again.
As an only child, my wife and I became part of this "Sandwich Generation" when my Dad passed on and Mom was left on her own. Of course I would honor his last request...to take care of Mom. It would be a pleasure. Mom was a very astute lady, read several books a week, worked every crossword puzzle she could get her hands on and adopted the QVC and Home Shopping staff as part of her family. Mom was truly loved by everyone who knew her.
For 5 years Mom lived next door where we were able to check on her on a daily basis. All seemed well until the day she fell and laid on the floor for 8 hours until we found her that evening. She had broken her arm and was unable to maneuver herself to a phone. Mom had a habit of tripping all her life...she was brought up in a time when ladies were taught to walk with their heads held high. However, at 85 years old and the lifeblood of our family, tripping took on a new overwhelming concern. It was time for a more suitable situation.
My wife and I sold our home, along with Mom's, and we built a new home with an in-law suite. Mom didn't need 24 hour care; she just needed some minor intervention. Living in our home, she was able to enjoy her privacy while knowing that our help was right there if needed. The new living arrangements worked exceptionally well for several more years.
However, I arrived home from work one evening to find Mom sitting in her chair, motioning for me to come to her. Her speech was garbled and unrecognizable, and I quickly realized that she had suffered a stroke sometime during the day while reading in her favorite chair.
She spent several days in the hospital, and was then transferred to a rehabilitative facility where she began slowly regaining some of her strength. However, within a few short weeks she suffered a second stroke and never again returned home.
Since then I have asked myself if there was more I could have done to have assured Mom's safety and well being. Feeling I had done all I could, I had actually ignored technology that may have helped her to stay safer and live longer. The technology at the time was a (PERS) Personal Emergency Response System button. We all know it as the "I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up" Button. If Mom had been able to receive medical treatment within 2 hours of her initial stroke, her chance for a full recovery could have increased dramatically. However, the pitfall to a PERS unit is that she would have had to wear the button 24 hours a day, and also be capable of pushing the button to seek help. Looking back on it now, I honestly don't know if she would have been capable of pushing the button...but I will never know.
Years have gone by and life has moved forward, however my interest in technologies to help care for elders has continued. About 3 years ago I stumbled onto a product called Quietcare, a system that was being used by Assisted Living Facilities to help monitor and care for their residents. At that time, the system was just being introduced for use in private homes. After further investigation I learned about how it was invented and how simple thoughts put into action can change lives forever.
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