How health tech wants to change our age

While ancient tools meant for adults may have fallen out of fashion, the need for new ways to stay healthy as you age is more “in” than ever. as if CES 2023companies have been added to the health tech market that are trying to make the business of aging more seamless than ever.

As we age, we begin to accumulate risks for underlying health conditions Heart problems, some eye diseases, hearing problems and others. They are time markers on this planet, but they often require additional health monitoring and metric-keeping, such as frequent blood pressure readings or monitoring of daily medication regimens.

Historically, we’ve seen health trackers for young or middle-aged adults, flashy interfaces, and new apps competing for buyers’ attention. But as the world of technology continues to grow, so do people.

Rick Robinson, vice president and general manager of the AARP AgeTech Collaborative, said, “The 50-plus age group is a very predatory group of people who are ready and willing and want — want — smart products that meet their needs.” .

In the year 2023 will see some major improvements in health technology that will have a positive impact on the lives and health of older people. One of the highlights was the new US Food and Drug Administration Act that he authorized. Hearing aids are sold over the counter. This removes the hurdle of a prescription for people with mild or moderate hearing loss, and cuts costs in the process.

I’ve rounded up some tech gadgets for seniors that we saw at CES 2023. These devices aim to easily measure things like blood pressure and heart rate and prevent the negative health effects of social isolation.

Simple ways to take blood pressure

Perhaps most exciting — at least for people who take their blood pressure daily or otherwise monitor their heart health — were the announcements of new, much easier ways to get those health metrics. Enter: A case-free, finger-only blood pressure monitor and toilet that monitors your blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, and heart rate while you sit on it.

A heart chair developed by Casana and shown by AARP at CES is being evaluated by the FDA for medical device clearance. This means that you need a prescription for one drug. But if cleaned and installed in your home, it can make heart health monitoring much easier for seniors and their caregivers. All it takes is 30 seconds of sitting. To provide your healthcare team with valuable information.

of valence Finger-only blood pressure monitor, is also being reviewed by the FDA, but does not require an over-the-counter prescription. Typically, blood pressure monitors require an arm squeeze and adjustment to get your daily readings. But Valens may be on the market sometime this year and could represent an exciting development in home health care.

Read more: I have high hopes for this knotless blood pressure monitor. Here’s why

Improvements to eye care

Electronic eyewear company eSight this year announced the eSight Go, a pair of glasses that mimic a more robotic sunshade designed for people with central vision and legal blindness. Macular degeneration, one of approximately 20 different eye disorders that make a person a good candidate for these glasses, is usually age-related. Compared to the eSight 4, the eSight Go has improved features, the company says, and projects a better image on two high-resolution screens for “full binocular vision.”

Additional hearing aids

This year’s CES was the first show since the US Food and Drug Administration’s new regime. Selling hearing aids over the counter. While any adult with mild or moderate hearing loss can benefit from the new law, aging is a major contributor to hearing loss, and about half of people will experience hearing loss after age 75. Hearing loss can lead to cognitive decline, as well as other physical and mental health problems.

Eargo, a big name in the personal speaker and OTC hearing aid world, announced the latest model, the Eargo 7, at CES. The Eargo 7 will be the company’s third prescription device. It comes with a new sound-tuning feature for better sound processing in loud environments, and improves sound performance in noisy environments like restaurants, the company said. 2023 is predicted It’s been a year since we’ve seen so many new hearing aids.

While some hearing professionals welcome the new FDA rule as an expansion in accessibility, not everyone is a good candidate for an OTC hearing aid. Read more about Advantages and disadvantages of over the counter hearing aids.

VR for social isolation

Similar to the health effects of smoking and physical inactivity, social isolation has been linked to negative health outcomes, including heart disease, dementia and premature death, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Older people are particularly vulnerable, and a quarter of adults over 65 are socially isolated. Factors that can increase social isolation include living alone, death of loved ones and hearing loss.

Renderver and AARP have virtual reality to help combat it. Rendever first demonstrated virtual reality for seniors in nursing homes at CES 2019, announcing the acquisition of the app Alcove at CES last week. While Rendever has worked with AARP on Alcove for several years, the tech company’s takeover will allow the VR experience to move beyond its previous focus on nursing homes, hopefully to more older adults and their caregivers. (You can download Alcove through the Quest Store.)

Robinson, who works with AARP’s Innovation Labs and Innovations in Aging Technologies, said many socially isolated people begin to slowly withdraw — for example, they stop seeing people or leaving the house. For someone experiencing social isolation, VR can “bring them out.” Hopefully, the new moves from Rendever will bring those ready-made experiences even more to life.

“It’s clear that the future of aging is based on purposeful technology,” Rendever founder Kyle Rand said in a press release. “A well-designed metaverse strengthens relationships, builds communities, and gives us the means to immerse ourselves in new experiences.”

The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have about health conditions or health goals.