Gadgets on guard

An explosion in health and wellness technology in recent years has vastly expanded options for aging residents, like Robertson, who want to remain independent and manage their health. Many blood pressure cuffs now have built-in analytics that track readings. Some scales communicate with computers, which can chart weight gains and losses, and connect to wellness programs for advice. Inexpensive finger clips can test blood oxygen.

There are specialized home blood test kits like Robertson’s, and advanced systems that can monitor patients from remote locations.

Such tools, said Dr. Suzanne Salamon, Robertson’s geriatrician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, can not only improve health, but also avoid crises. Warfarin, for example, is great for preventing strokes, but too much can lead to hemorrhaging. Regular blood tests to monitor levels of the blood thinner are crucial.

For seniors with congestive heart failure, she said, weighing themselves daily is essential because they’re prone to retaining water that can get into their lungs. A sudden five-pound jump is a sign of trouble, but if they notice quickly and take more diuretics to eliminate the water, they’ll be fine.

“I think these home monitoring devices are really life-saving,’’ Salamon said.

A particularly fast-growing segment of the market is telemonitoring, which many seniors first experience through visiting nurse services. Prices have dropped significantly: Lifestyle Health Systems of Salem, or example, offers home monitoring devices starting at $400, or $25 per month for a leased unit. The simplest systems involve taking vital signs at home and calling them in. But many devices now transmit data automatically; some wireless systems can be worn outside the home.

The Philips Lifeline has added capabilities, with built-in sensors that track a person’s movements and signal for help if they detect a fall, and the wearer doesn’t get up within 30 seconds.