Maria Snögren

Elderly are vulnerable in many ways, especially with regard to isolation and involuntary loneliness. Welfare technology can break this isolation. One example of welfare technology is personal security alarms. An issue with this type of alarms is that they increase the risk of isolation as they only work in the users’ home. Meaning that people with reduced physical function and/or cognitive impairments are at risk of becoming isolated due to fear of falling or losing their way. An alternative to these alarms is GPS alarm.

The elderly are becoming a bigger share of the population and more older people still have their own teeth. Elderly people who need municipal care are also on the rise and this places demands on nursing staff to have the skills needed to assess and care for the oral health of the elderly. Performing oral care is not an easy task, as it can be perceived as an invasion of privacy. Neglected oral health can also lead to poorer overall health. It is possible to prevent poor oral health with small means such as daily oral care.