By
Jennifer Bradley, Staff Writer
Camera Controversy
The benefits of video monitoring are well-known,
but the privacy issues that accompany such
technology should be considered by the
caregiver. On the “Aging in Place Technology
Watch” blog, author Laurie Orlov debates this
topic in an article entitled” Web cameras and
the elderly—whose right is it to decide?”
The discussion revolves around a loved one’s
right to privacy, even if the camera presence
offers reassurance for a caregiver. “Assuming
anyone is paying attention to these images as
they’re streamed, or reviewing them if they’re
aggregated on a server, this feels like a
boundary has been crossed in the name of
‘preserving’ a parent’s right to remain in their
home of choice,” she writes. “The right to stay,
apparently, is not the right to be left alone.”
Motion sensors, which monitor a person’s
movement, or alert an incoming party, Orlov
argues, as well as code alert pendants, may be
enough surveillance for a caregiver to feel
confident and a loved one to be safe. A variety
of opinions exist on the pros and cons of these
surveillance products, but the best approach is
to ask a loved one what amount of monitoring
they feel is appropriate. If they don’t like
being part of the “Big Brother” effect,
around-the-clock video may not be for them.
On the Web
Many seniors today have loved ones communicating
via the Internet, but are unsure themselves how
to navigate and perhaps feel overwhelmed by the
technology. This often leaves them left out of
daily conversations taking place within their
family.
A newer offering on the market today is
called simple email, which a variety of
companies have found a large customer base for.
This technology allows anyone unfamiliar with
computers to use the Internet immediately and
easily.
In many of the systems, a caregiver must
install software, which then transforms the
computer background into a “point and click”
simple access system. A senior may see tabs for
photos, email, news, and more topics that are
easy to view, with no Internet browsing or
downloading necessary. Caregivers and other
friends or family can send digital images or
letters to their loved one, offering a bit of
comfort and companionship from miles away.
Other products don’t even involve a computer,
but a fax machine, or specially designed device
that offers wireless communication. Companies
have also developed senior communication
services which use an existing phone line to
send and receive messages.
One such service says it’s a great way to
send a loved one appointment or medication
reminders, to-do lists, and other notes such as
“remember to change clothes” or “take a bath
this evening.” In addition, these
technologies are offering a way for
grandchildren, who communicate only through
digital means, an excuse-free way to reconnect.
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