Video: The Electronic Caregiver for Seniors

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COLUMBUS, Miss.(WCBI) — The Area Agency on Aging along with the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District is hosting The Electronic Caregiver, a mobile unit parked on Gardner Boulevard in Columbus, is bringing to area seniors the latest in modern resources.

When it comes to our aged population, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and with September being National Falls Prevention Month, these seniors are taking steps to keep both feet well planted.

“We do a lot of fall prevention training and education. We also do a lot of work when it comes to a big percentage of those falls happen as a result of adverse drug reactions and medical mistakes,” Dustin Cook with the Electronic Caregiver said.

“I have one friend that, she is crippled from the fall. Well it makes you think, we don’t need to do that. So yes I think this was a good experience, and I would do it again,” fair goer Teresa Thompson said.

The idea is to prolong a sense of independence for the citizens. That’s why 15 minutes strapped up inside a mobile fall and gait analysis lab. Information gathered shows who is at risk and for what type of a fall.

“We have 3D motion capture cameras. The bottom line is we use seven unique indicators to determine their gait analysis and to find out the likelihood of this person falling,” Cook said.

With falls being the number one economic impact indicator for seniors, the dedicated caregivers are reminding fair goers how important it is to walk a straight line. Oh yes, when it comes to medication, seniors must take the right drugs, right dosage, at the right time. That’s why using new methods of pharmaceutical genetic testing is so important.

“Looks at all the medications, make sure that we are not having any reactions. And make sure we are having the correct dose for that particular individual’s genetic blueprint. And its done with a single buccal swab inside their mouth,” Cook said.

For seniors, at this stage of their lives, information on what’s new in the way of technology is helping them to maintain lifestyle issues while enjoying in some cases huge savings.

The Electronic Caregiver mobile screening unit is expected to remain at Gardner Boulevard until Saturday.

For more information email dcook@lifesupportmedical.com or call 601-255-4680 or 575-522-4046.

Categories: Local News

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