Top 10 Assistive Gadgets For Tending To Brain Disorder Or Damage Individuals

Those donning roles of caregivers to individuals with brain-related problems occurring due to either dementia, autism, Down’s syndrome, MS or Parkinson’s disease – is an extremely trying and daunting task. However, there is positive news in the horizon with assistive technology making life a whole lot easier and less complicated.

There is a huge array of gadgetry and contrivances that could assuage stress levels amongst caregivers. They additionally provide one’s loves ones an increased amount of safety, security and freedom. Assisted technology would provide answers to such issues that one might have failed to even envision.

Below stated are briefing of the wide-array of effectual assisted technology for brain-related problems, right from alarms, motion detectors and LoJack for such individuals.

1. Assistive gadgets – In case one’s loved one is having a physical disability along with a brain-related disorder –for example, MS –then one could opt for the low-technology assistive gadgets like a reacher (a claw-fitted pole) that aids in fetching items located far off or on high places. The basic household items like a simple can opener that has broad, easily manageable handles could majorly help out the individual.  These assist one’s loved one to be able to perform tasks that might otherwise been unattainable in the absence of any aid which seems like good news for both the patient and the caregiver.
2. Emergency alert gadgets – These comprise of 2 sections, namely a base unit that attaches to the telephone line and a bracelet/pendant attached with an alarm push button that the patient could press. These need to be subscribed on a monthly basis. In case the button is pressed, the company’s operator gets the beep who then informs the local authorities that could locate the person. In certain gadgets the operator could be contacted in case some wrong has happened to the person. One must always remember that this form of assistive gadgetry is meant for residence use only and the alarm system would fail to function in case the patient goes beyond the range of the base unit. Several companies like Lifeline, Rescue Alert and Ready Response provide an assortment of choices with analogous products along with subscriptions.
3. Identification Necklaces or Bracelets – ID jewellery are quite crucial for those individuals ailing from cognitive problems. The already available MedicAlert bracelets and pendants have inscription of the individual’s health information. There are other variants, for example, MedicAlert has collaborated with the Alzheimer’s Association offering the Safe Return Program in order to assist caregivers to get speedy notification about where their loved one ailing from dementia has wandered off track. Companies like MedicTag have viable options to offer like the USB device having a flash drive that could be easily worn. When plugged to a computer, the health information of the person would immediately be accessible.
4. Radio tracking gadgets – A person ailing from either autism, dementia could be made to wear a special kind of bracelet having a transponder that would help in tracking down even at remote locations and would swiftly inform the authorities about it. Along with the costing of the device, there are additional costs like a monthly charge in order to avail these services.
5. Alarms – Egg timers and digital watches have been employed since long for reminding the patient with cognitive problems for taking their medications timely or getting prepared to go for the doctor’s appointment. However, with the use assistive technology for instance a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or smart phone helps the caregiver in scheduling an intricate set of day-to-day, week-wise or month-wise alarms. One could enrol for the Reminder services for instance OnTimeRX, wherein on entering the patient’s medication timetable online, reminders in the form of phone calls, emails or messages would be given to the patient.
6. Gadgets for assisting in communication – Handheld gadgets like PDA could assist the patient in communicating by employing a touch screen monitor and a synthesize tone. Computers could be adapted with specialized hardware or software to best suit the needs of patients with cognitive problems. For instance, these could even be controlled with the assistance of ocular movements.
7. Motion or Pressure Sensors – Basic forms of motion sensors could be fitted to doors which would set off an alarm when door is opened. More complicated and subtle motion sensor detectors have other assistive technology functions like surveillance through the internet would help in keeping tabs on the movements of the patient or pressure sensors that could optionally be placed on spots where the patient lies down and alert the caregiver of the patient’s movements.
8. Cameras – Choice of a ‘nanny camera’ for keeping track of the person through the Internet from one’ s residence  or work place. In case it seems invasive, then merely setting up a webcam on a computer – or at times a television set and making some check-in video calling during the day. These cameras are not costly and could be utilized with pay services or free-of-cost Internet phone services, for instance, Skype.
9. Locator Devices – If the person is always forgetting stuff, then a low-cost locating device would be beneficial. Firstly, tiny plastic tags would need to be attached to the items that the person tends to forget about and hence get lost. Then, while one is in range, if one pushes the button on the main unit then the tag on the misplaced object would start beeping.
10. Electronic pillboxes – The electronic pillboxes would help in mechanically dispensing medicines thus being a major time saving device, thus proffering affected persons with greater independence. The simple devices mere eject the pills while the more complex kinds could inform the caregiver in case a tablet has been skipped.

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