New Gadgets Intrigue Long-Term Care

The marketplace is awash in new gadgets that are showing promise for use in the long-term care sector. Here are two we like.

The Wii Balance Board
Researchers at the University of Melbourne found that the Wii Balance Board can precisely quantify a resident's center of pressure (COP), an important component of standing balance. It's also inexpensive, portable and widely available, making it even more attractive. When compared to a standard laboratory-grade force platform, the Wii Balance Board was determined to be a valid tool for assessing standing balance at a fraction of the cost of the force platform.

This isn't the first time we've talked about the Wii's usefulness to long-term care. To view our entry on the Wii's social and rehabilitation applications, click here.

The GeoSkeeper
In the words of its manufacturer, Aerotel Medical Systems, the GeoSkeeper is a "personal communicator with distress alarm and GPS location." This device is worn on the wrist and includes a distress button and integrated active GPS system. When needed, a warning signal is activated and the device provides accurate location of users in need. It also contains a built-in cellular speakerphone that enables the wearer to make voice calls to numbers stored in speed dialing buttons. Wearers can also receive calls from any caller or from the device's remote monitoring center.