Study shows elderly readily adapt to remote monitoring

MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn., and PHILADELPHIA Elderly people who rely on remote monitoring technology for security and independence adapt well to living with the technology and don’t see it as intrusive or impersonal, according to a report released Wednesday.

The survey, conducted at four locations within the NewCourtland Network, examined effectiveness of Healthsense’s eNeighbor remote monitoring technology and captured the perceptions of residents, family members and staff.

Participants in the survey agreed that the system makes them feel safer and more secure while allowing them to live independently for longer, witch exception to one of the people surveyed, who expressed concern about intrusiveness.

“We thought at first that adapting to the technology would be a major issue for our residents, but clearly it was not,” said NewCourtland vice president for housing and community-based services Kim Brooks. “The results of the survey demonstrate that even seniors with little or no prior exposure to this technology can readily adapt to it once they realize the improved quality of life it offers.”

The NewCourtland Network is a non-profit provider of community services, housing and nursing homes for more than 2,200 elderly people in Philadelphia.