There are lots of things that fall into the category of “everyday objects”. They are not sexy, and don’t get the attention of pundits or fashionable startup companies, but can make a huge difference to the quality of everyday life.
A prefect example is the humble “jar opener”.
Our Longevity Explorers like to find such everyday objects and share them with each other and with you. Listen to their discussions and “show and tell” sessions below.
My Dad is now in a nursing home, and he can't tell the difference between 4 AM and 4 PM when looking at a clock. When he asks his Voice Assistant, and it says, "It's 4 AM", he thinks it said "4 PM," and he better get dressed for dinner!
I have created an Alexa skill called “My Clock” that is designed to help people with dementia who suffer from time “confusion”. And also to help caregivers who get exhausted from answering repeated questions about “what time is it”?
As older adults develop physical and mental frailties, they sometimes have difficulty using products they want to be able to continue to use: such as the TV.
For example, physical impairments, like arthritis or tremor, may make it hard to press buttons. And cognitive impairments may make it hard for them to remember the way to navigate to a particular channel or streaming "show".
I found I needed different solutions, depending on exactly what problem the older adult in question had.
Below, I describe three solutions — starting with a simple voice command to set the TV to a specific program; and escalating to special pre-programmed buttons that can be positioned near the TV and which, when pressed, automatically start the desired program.
There are three approaches to finding a TV remote using the Tile App. One uses an App on your phone. The second uses a “Voice Assistant” to interact with the Tile App. And the third uses a “button” to interact with the Tile App via Google assistant.
Who is not familar with this experience?
It’s time to watch TV. Where did you put the remote control for the TV?
My brother-in-law forgets to put the toilet seat down causing my sister to almost fall in once during the night
If you have visited residents' rooms in a nursing home, you will notice that the resident's TV is always on, although the resident is not paying attention. It's mind numbing.
Set up a commercial-free (paid) YouTube account and create some playlists. Some of these videos are 8-12 hours long!
Improving the design of everyday objects like jar openers, nail clippers, and other household appliances and gadgets can greatly improve the quality of life of older adults as they develop conditions like arthritis, tremors, or other physical and mental limitations that come with age. Together with our Longevity Explorers, we are evaluating products in this “everyday object” … Read more