Helping Seniors Through Technology
The Joint Technology Committee is a year-round committee with oversight responsibility for major state technology projects. The Journal reported that the presentation covered a range of helpful devices, including GPS inserts for shoes of patients with advanced dementia to devices to help cut down on hospital and doctor visits. Another device discussed would diagnose urinary tract infections from home. There was also a smartphone application that asks a series of health-related questions and sends the answers to an individual’s health care provider to determine if an office visit is necessary.
Other states are also conducting research regarding how technology can assist seniors to continue to reside in their homes. Heather M. Young, associate vice chancellor for nursing and dean of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing and Thomas Nesbitt, interim vice chancellor of Human Health Sciences at UC Davis are conducting a project to create new technology as well as adapting existing devises to facilitate this goal.
Many caregivers are unaware of the Nevada Assistive Technology for Independent Living Program. Through this program, assistive technology is provided to help an individual remain living independently in their home or to help an individual transition back to living independently from a care facility, such as a nursing home. Assistive technology is something that helps a person maintain or increase his or her level of functioning. Examples of assistive technology include walk in tubs / roll in showers, grab bars, stair lifts, wheelchairs, hearing aids, special computer equipment, fall alerts, medication management systems and many other tools and devices.
While this program is not specific to the elderly, assistive technology can be very instrumental in allowing disabled elderly individuals, such as those who have had a stroke, to live independently. Through this program, modifications are made to homes and vehicles in order to make them more accessible.
To be eligible for the program, you must be a resident of Nevada, have a documented, permanent disability that significantly limits functioning, and, the requested assistive technology or modification must increase the applicant’s level of independent function. In addition, applicants must have no other means of receiving services in order to receive aid from this program. In other words, they cannot have insurance that will help meet their needs, nor can they be enrolled in, or have access to, another state or federal program.
Case coordination is provided through non-profit community partners C*A*R*E* Chest of Sierra Nevada and Easter Seals. To determine if you or a loved one is eligible, contact them at (702) 860-8263.
Drizin Law is providing this information for educational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion as to any specific facts or circumstances. This information is based on general principles of Nevada law at the time it was created and you should be aware laws frequently change. Moreover, the laws affecting you may differ depending on the circumstances. You should consult with a qualified attorney in your own state or jurisdiction concerning your particular situation. Review of this information does not create an attorney-client relationship.
