AT&T Will Keep Your Grandma Out of the Nursing Home

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

At a recent trade show, AT&T announced its digital options to allow caregivers to monitor their elderly relatives. Digital Life Care is designed for children who want to keep an eye on their elderly parents without moving in with them or sending them to an assisted living or skilled nursing facility. While it is not designed to physically take care of them, it will let caregivers know whether or not elderly parents are doing tasks needed to take care of themselves, such as taking their medicine, getting out of bed, leaving the water running, etc.

Hmmm......what do you think about digitalizing Grandma and Grandpa??? I guess robots are next???

No technology beats a personal touch.........

To read the full article, go to http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2468204,00.asp

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Wow. I see the capabilities of this technology, but Grandma and Grandpa deserve privacy as well as safety, and I for one would be FURIOUS if my kids wanted to install this system in my house to monitor me. Nobody wants to go to assisted living or a nursing home, but if their condition is such that these measures are necessary, it's time to consider the move. JMHO.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I don't know.....living far away it could bring peace of mind. I know before my Dad died and even after if we couldn't get a hold of them we panicked. It would be a comfort to look to see that they aren't lying dead on the floor.

One recent time...my sister was on vacation with my BIL in Alaska. Mom didn't answer the phone. WE called and called....I finally called the police...she was sleeping in the chair and didn't hear the phone although she heard the door being broken into....LOL

Like anything else...if used without malice and properly it could be a good device

[amoLucia]

I don't know .... this could be a sneaky way to stalk someone. What an invasion of privacy!!! Where is AARP or the ACLU on this issue'

Big brother is watching !!!

Scarey to me!

[richardgecko]

No, a crafty hacker can use this opportunity to stalk my parents and rob them. NO.

I don't like those away from home security systems either. Just seems flimsy.

[Karou]

The idea is not bad but I think it's creepy... I see too many potentials for abuse of this kind of technology. I am interested to know more about how it works and what kinds of things are in place to protect grandma/grandpas privacy.

[Emergent, RN]

What if Grampa decided to take some Viagra and get frisky with Grandma?

[wooh, BSN, RN]

What if Grampa decided to take some Viagra and get frisky with Grandma?

Reminds me of that episode of That 70s Show where Eric saw his parents and was traumatized. Ewwwwww!!!!!! Hahahaha!

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

No, a crafty hacker can use this opportunity to stalk my parents and rob them. NO.

I don't like those away from home security systems either. Just seems flimsy.

I can see how people might find this to be helpful, however just like mentioned above someone can hack into this.. Look at how video baby moniters have been hacked. No thanks. Not worth the risks.

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

When grandma's condition has deteriorated to the point where she requires surveillance, she requires assistance.

It's a bandaid. It might provide several more months of independence, but the trade off is privacy.

I think I'd rather be private in an assisted living facility, than independent in my home, with cameras recording every time I .....

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

Sorry but no, this is not for me. If I am so worried about Mom that I feel the need for 24 hour surveillance I will feel no guilt about placing her somewhere safe. I couldn't imagine anybody outside of a reality TV show being comfortable with the thought of somebody watching them all the time, even [or maybe especially] if it is family and for supposed safety concerns.

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

Cheaper than a caregiver, apparently...