Must-Have Assistive Devices for Elderly and Disabled

An Assistive technology device is an equipment or a product with IOT enabled program aimed at facilitating mobility and functions for elderly and disabled people.

In most cases, the elderly and disabled become dependent on some or all assistive technology devices as they age. These assistive technology devices augment the living quality of the elderly and disabled to lead a near-normal life without much external support from their family members or caregivers.

The assistive devices also have a strong psychological impact on the aged people and those immobile, giving them both physical strength to carry on their basic day-to-day activities and mental strength of being non-dependent or less dependent on others.

Assistive technological devices come at an affordable price and are worth investing in for a better quality of life for the elderly and disabled. The most significant advantage of these devices is that they can be custom-made for elderly and disabled patients according to their needs and wants.

What is an assistive technology device? 

Assistive technology is a terminology used for self-assistance, adaptive, and rehabilitation devices for the elderly and disabled to lead an everyday independent life with very little external support from others. Also, many assistive devices are being designed and built by AI (Artificial Intelligence).

The biggest benefactor of assistive technological devices is that it is not only confined to the users alone but also to those around them, like their family members, teachers, employers, and all those associated with the elderly and the disabled.

WHO and assistive technology devices 

WHO is partnering with the NGO GATE (Global Cooperation of Assistive Technology), which strives to provide high-quality assistive technology devices to anyone and anywhere. GATE’s development agenda provides practical tools for realising the goals of the UN Convention for the rights of people with disabilities, global health coverages, and strategic development plans.

The key fact listed by WHO today is that there are 1 billion people who need at least one assistive technology device, and it’s estimated that by 2030 it will double.

List of various assistive technology devices 

The elderly are quite often dependent on their family members or friends for the slightest of things. For them to get by the day with ease, without having to wait for anyone to help, there is a big list of assistive devices for the elderly and disabled, which includes

• Mobility support: Crutches – an assistive device for walking, walking stick with alarms, walking frames, crutches tricycle with hand pedal, wheelchairs, canes, clubfoot brace, prosthetics, three-wheeled scooters, and orthotic devices
• Hearing support: Hearing aid for those hard of hearing, hearing loops and cognitive aids, etc.
• Vision support: Spectacles, contact lenses, communication cards, magnifiers, and magnifying software to read computers.
• Positioning: Cot and cushion adjustment, flexible backrest, etc.
• Daily life support: GPS-enabled navigational devices, smartphone-enabled task lists, and timers.
• In-built physical modifications: Home assistive devices, mainly ramps, hand grab bars, raised toilet seats for the physically challenged, etc. In offices and businesses, escalators, ramps, and lifts are used.
• Computer hardware and software programs: Voice recognition arrangements, screen reading, and screen enlargement functions for those with sensory impairments.
• Voice assistant: All electric and electronic gadgets are connected to voice commands for operations (like Alexa and Google).
• Learning: Using the Braille method to read and write for blind people.
• Other IoT-enabled assistive devices: GPS tracker, personal alarms, telecare monitoring, home safety and security gadgets, communication aids, and memory aids.

Beneficiaries of assistive technology devices

• Immobility caused to older adults due to gradual functional withdrawal
• Disabled people
• People affected by non-communicable diseases like diabetes and stroke
• Those with mental health conditions like autism, dementia, and Parkinson’s diseases

Benefits and advantages of assistive technology devices

• Improvement in the quality of life for the elders and disabled people
• Dependence of caregivers and family members attendants is vastly reduced
• Care home admission can be avoided and can remain at home living an independent lifestyle as before
• Accidents and falls at home can be avoided
• Sense of control
• Seeking the support of home assistive devices is a rehabilitation process
• Psychological fear is erased amongst the elderly and disabled

Challenges and barriers to assistive devices as listed out by UNICEF

• No proper guidelines and governance on legislation and policies
• Absence of awareness among the majority of the people
• Very few services offered
• Financial constraints
• Lack of human resources available
• Many countries do not have any specific state policy on assistive technology program

It is estimated that the elderly and disabled assistive technology market will touch $37.6 billion by 2023. With a strong growing market and an ever-increasing senior and disabled population set to go up in the next decade with more elderly population than ever before, the need then arises for a better living. The answer to all their problems is embracing assistive technology devices.