Nothing will last forever, not even your health. That’s a morbid and gloomy thing to contemplate but hey, it’s nature. Our biology is not going to last indefinitely. Which is all the more reason we should enjoy our bodies while we can. One day, we will find that our body has deteriorated to the point that it no longer ‘feels’ like us. We don’t have the same bounce in our step. We don’t have the same speed in our movements nor, the cognitive accuracy of our finite motor-neuron skills. What should you do? Throwing in the towel by putting up your hands and saying ‘whatever shall be, shall be’ is not conducive to the human spirit. Do you know what is? Technological innovation!
A stronger you
The issue that many elderly people have in common, is a lack of rigidity in their skeletal structure. Bones become thinner and more brittle as we age and this can lead to inflexibility and weak muscles. As you can imagine this can lead to bizarre injuries just by doing everyday normal things. Elderly people find it difficult to get off the toilet, get out of the bath, or pull themselves up from a fall. However, with new exoskeleton technology sprouting up in just about every developed nation, this could be a thing of the past.
Initially, this technology was being developed purely for military purposes. It would help soldiers carry more weight, further and feel less tired. However, civilian applications such as for the elderly, are quickly becoming a thing of the near future. Now elderly people can simply put on their exoskeleton, walk and sit freely in their own homes, without feeling scared of doing the aforementioned things. If you want to live in your own home no matter how old you get, this type of technology will ensure your autonomy.
Hope after loss?
There are a few things that we have gotten used to fading as we age. Our hair, eyesight, and hearing will decline almost in a linear fashion. It’s just something that human beings have gotten used to. In this decade, things are set to change in so many ways. Firstly, hearing loss may not be permanent. Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the auditory nerve. The tiny hairs inside your ear may fade and no longer vibrate inside your ear to pick up sound. With a trusted specialist, hearing could be restored to full or at least some degree. With the use of hearing aids or a cochlear implant, your hearing could be brought back to life.
There are different drugs being developed that could also have a similar effect. There is talk of a concerted effort by REGAIN, to test a batch of new drugs on patients, that could restore hearing to those with sensorineural hearing loss. This is purely in the ‘phase 1’ trial period so this isn’t something to hold your breath to. It may be a few years until results start being shown. But, it shows there is hope.
Help from robots?
We’ve all imagined a team of personal man-sized robots helping us around the house, at one time or another. It’s almost in every human fantasy of the future. You’re probably thinking of something like the movie i-Robot. Well, this could become a reality sooner than you think. Boston Dynamics is an amazing robotics company that has made its very first commercial product. Spot is a dog-like robot that has a forward-facing camera as a face but has 360-degree vision from smaller cameras around its structure. Oh, it also has a clamp arm on its back! It can open doors, walk around your home without bumping into anything and carry things for you on it’s back.
It has complex systems that stop it from being pushed over and also from slipping on wet surfaces. It’s already making parcel deliveries to homes. It has a runtime of 90-minutes and the rechargeable batteries can be swapped. Crucially, it can carry up to 14kg. So if you’re getting older and don’t feel like carrying your shopping, place a backpack on Spot and take him with you next time you go looking for groceries. Although this technology is bound to be pricey, if you have the money for it and you think Spot would make your life easier as you age, then contact the brand via their website.
Who said you should give up just because you feel old? Technology will always come to save the day. Whether you have hearing loss, physical weakness, or need a helper around the house, don’t throw in the towel just yet, because there are growing options available.
